Zimbabwe teenage golf prodigy Tawana Mangoma believes he learnt a lot from his first appearance at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan last month after he struggled playing in the rain on the final day.
At just 16, Mangoma was the youngest member of the team which also comprised Keegan Shutt and Tanaka Chatora that flew the country’s flag at the Chukyo Golf Club in Toyota City (Nagoya), Japan. Zimbabwe finished 11th out of the 12 teams that took part in the event and Mangoma struggled on the final day where he shot 7 - over par to finish the tournament in a three-way tie for 30th place on 8 - over par 221. In the first two rounds, the young golfer had shot 71 and 72 on the par 71 course.
Mangoma was also part of the team that also qualified the country for the World Cup at the All Africa Junior Golf Team Championship in Johannesburg in April.
It was his first time representing Zimbabwe at an international golf tournament. Braydon Amm was also part of the team although he did not travel to Japan for the global competition.
“It was great playing at the highest level of junior golf obviously representing my country. I started very well but I didn’t handle the rain well on the final day. I know I will do better the next time that I play in the rain. It’s something to learn from but I am happy and satisfied with my performance,” Mangoma said.
Mangoma is currently based in South Africa where he is learning and playing golf at Bramble Hill Golf Academy.
The former St Johns College student says his representing the country remains his biggest achievement in his flagging golf career so far.
“Obviously representing my country and taking us to Japan for the first time in seven years is my biggest achievement so far. A few years ago I also managed to qualify for the US Kids Golf World Championships while I have also won a couple of junior tournaments in South Africa,” he said.
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In 2021, Mangoma finished second in South Africa 2021 to qualify for the US Kids event when he was part of the Leadbetter Golf Academy under Ryan Cairns in Zimbabwe.
But how did it all began for him?
“I started playing golf around seven or eight years old. My dad loves golf so he introduced it to me. He would take me to the shooting range and I didn’t like it at first but it grew on me and then I have been playing ever since.
The big dream is obviously playing on Tour one day, hopefully the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour if I can get that far. There is no limit to where I can go but I just need to practice and work on my game and make sure I can get there.
“At the moment I am in high school and I have two years of high school and I will probably be looking to go to the US for college after that,” he said.
Mangoma will be representing Bramble Hill at the SA High Schools Championship which tees off on Monday.
