“South Africa will send three of its leading amateur golfers, Charlotte Millard, Isabella Ferreira and Lourenda Steyn, to represent the country at the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Abuja, Nigeria, from 2 to 7 November. The selection highlights the strength of South African women’s amateur golf, with all three players ranked among the top four in the GolfRSA Open Amateur rankings and bringing impressive domestic and international achievements into the continental championship.”
South Africa will send three of its leading amateur golfers, Charlotte Millard, Isabella Ferreira and Lourenda Steyn, to represent the country at the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Abuja, Nigeria, from 2 to 7 November. The selection highlights the strength of South African women’s amateur golf, with all three players ranked among the top four in the GolfRSA Open Amateur rankings and bringing impressive domestic and international achievements into the continental championship.
South Africa’s Top Golfing Trio Ready to Challenge Africa’s Best at 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy
South African women’s amateur golf is preparing for another important international test as three of the country’s leading golfers get ready to represent the national team at the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Abuja, Nigeria. Charlotte Millard, Isabella Ferreira and Lourenda Steyn have been selected to compete in one of Africa’s most prestigious women’s amateur team competitions, scheduled to take place from 2 to 7 November at the IBB International Golf and Country Club.
The selection represents a significant opportunity for South Africa to demonstrate its strength in women’s golf while providing three talented players with another platform to compete against some of the continent’s best amateur golfers. Their impressive performances throughout the 2026 season have earned them places in the national team, with all three occupying positions among the top four players in the GolfRSA Open Amateur rankings.
The announcement also highlights the progress of South Africa’s women’s golf development programme, which continues to produce competitive players capable of performing at domestic, continental and international levels.
South Africa selects three outstanding performers
The national team consists of Charlotte Millard, Isabella Ferreira and Lourenda Steyn. Each golfer brings a different combination of experience, achievements and competitive qualities to the squad.
Millard currently leads the GolfRSA Open Amateur rankings, while Ferreira occupies second position. Steyn is ranked fourth, making the selected group particularly impressive in terms of national ranking strength.
Their selection reflects consistent performances across several major amateur competitions rather than success in a single tournament. Each player has demonstrated the ability to compete against strong opposition, manage demanding tournament conditions and produce results in important championship events.
The 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy will therefore provide an opportunity for the trio to translate their individual achievements into a collective national performance.
The competition is particularly important because it brings together national teams from across Africa. Consequently, South Africa will face golfers with different playing experiences, competitive backgrounds and approaches to the game.
For the selected players, representing their country also carries responsibility beyond individual achievement. Their performances will contribute to South Africa’s position in continental women’s golf and provide valuable experience for future international competitions.
Charlotte Millard leads South Africa’s challenge
Charlotte Millard enters the championship following an outstanding season that has established her as one of the country’s strongest amateur golfers.
The 20-year-old Killarney Country Club golfer has demonstrated impressive consistency throughout 2026. One of her most important achievements came in February when she won the South African Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship at The Els Club Copperleaf.
Her victory was particularly significant because it came after a closely contested battle against Isabella Ferreira.
Both golfers finished the championship tied on seven-under-par 207, forcing the competition into a playoff. Millard eventually secured the title on the fourth extra hole, demonstrating the composure and determination required to succeed under pressure.
Winning a national championship of this importance strengthened her reputation and confirmed her ability to compete against the country’s leading amateur players.
Millard also made an important contribution to South Africa’s international golfing presence when she earned her first Protea colours at the 2026 GolfRSA International Amateur Championship.
Furthermore, she achieved a third-place finish at the prestigious R&A Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational at Royal Johannesburg earlier in the year.
Her season has included additional victories in the Ackerman Championship, Cobra Puma CGGU Championship and Eastern Province and Border Championship.
She also secured the individual title in the recent SA Women’s 72-Hole Team Championship.
These achievements demonstrate why Millard will be an important member of the national squad. Her position at the top of the amateur rankings reflects a season built on consistent competitive performances.
As she prepares for Nigeria, her experience in high-pressure championship situations could become particularly valuable.
Isabella Ferreira brings consistency and international experience
Isabella Ferreira will provide another important dimension to South Africa’s team.
The George Golf Club golfer has enjoyed an impressive period of development, combining domestic championship victories with international achievements.
Her success at the 2025 Egyptian Ladies Amateur Open provided an important foundation for her continued progress. During 2026, she maintained that momentum through a series of strong performances across South Africa.
One of her notable achievements was winning the Western Province Women’s Amateur Championship in March at Westlake Golf Club.
Ferreira defeated Millard in that competition, demonstrating the competitive rivalry between two golfers who have consistently occupied leading positions in the national rankings.
She subsequently added victories at the Free State Open, Southern Cape Open and Gauteng North Open to her growing collection of achievements.
Her performances also extended beyond South Africa. Ferreira claimed individual honours at the Run Africa Dames in Réunion, where she partnered with Millard and Kesha Louw to secure the team competition.
The South African combination recorded a three-round total of 432.
Although victories are important indicators of competitive quality, Ferreira’s consistency is equally significant.
She finished runner-up in the South African Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship, Ackerman Championship and Ekurhuleni Open.
These results demonstrate her ability to remain competitive across different tournaments and playing conditions.
Her second position in the GolfRSA Open Amateur rankings further confirms her standing among South Africa’s leading women’s amateur golfers.
For the upcoming continental championship, Ferreira’s experience and consistency could be important assets. Her previous international participation should also help her approach the competition with confidence.
Lourenda Steyn represents South Africa’s emerging golfing generation
At just 17 years old, Lourenda Steyn completes a particularly promising national team.
The Centurion Country Club golfer has already established an impressive record in junior and amateur golf, demonstrating that South Africa has a strong emerging generation of female golfing talent.
Her international achievements include winning the individual title at the 2026 All Africa Junior Team Championship in Kenya.
She also helped South Africa secure the girls’ team championship at that event, demonstrating her ability to contribute to both individual and collective success.
Steyn’s achievements extend beyond African competition.
She won the 2025 Zimbabwe Junior Open and Dutch Junior Open, establishing herself as a competitive young golfer on the international junior circuit.
Additionally, her fourth-place finish at the 2026 Annika Invitational Europe demonstrated her ability to compete against leading junior players from other golfing nations.
She also finished runner-up at the R&A Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational and represented South Africa at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan.
Her domestic achievements during 2026 include victories at the Limpopo Championship and Free State Open.
Another important milestone came when she successfully defended her Women’s A-Division title at the GolfRSA Champion of Champions.
According to the published GolfRSA report, Steyn became the first player since Caitlyn Macnab in 2017 and 2018 to win consecutive titles in that division.
Her selection for the All Africa Challenge Trophy therefore represents another important opportunity to develop her international career.
At 17, she will compete alongside two more experienced national performers, creating an interesting combination of youth, experience and competitive ambition.
Strong leadership and confidence in the national team
The selection has received a positive response from Women’s Golf South Africa President Madeleine de Wet.
De Wet welcomed the combination of players, highlighting the fact that each earned selection through strong performances at home and abroad.
She expressed confidence in the team’s ability to represent South Africa with pride and determination.
Her comments also emphasised the importance of recognising the achievements of all three golfers.
Millard and Ferreira have established themselves among the country’s leading amateur competitors, while Steyn continues to demonstrate remarkable competitiveness at a young age.
Team South Africa will be managed by Women’s Golf South Africa Vice-President Petricia Buurman.
Her management role will be important in supporting the players throughout the championship and ensuring that the team has the organisational guidance required during the international competition.
GolfRSA Chief Executive Officer Grant Hepburn also highlighted the importance of the organisation’s investment in women’s golf and its National Squad programme.
He explained that GolfRSA aims to establish a clear pathway through which talented junior golfers can progress into elite amateur competition and eventually reach international golfing opportunities.
The three selected players represent examples of this development pathway.
Their achievements demonstrate how structured competition, national support and opportunities to participate internationally can contribute to the growth of South African women’s golf.
Importance of the All Africa Challenge Trophy
The 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy is one of the important events on the African women’s amateur golf calendar.
Hosted by the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, the competition will bring together national teams from across the continent between 2 and 7 November.
The championship offers participating countries an opportunity to measure their development against other African golfing programmes.
For South Africa, the tournament represents more than an opportunity to pursue continental honours. It also provides a platform to strengthen international relationships, gain competitive experience and identify emerging talent.
The presence of Millard, Ferreira and Steyn gives the country a particularly encouraging combination of established amateur performers and a developing young international competitor.
Their individual achievements suggest that South Africa will enter the competition with considerable confidence. Nevertheless, the strength of the opposition means that success will depend on performances throughout the championship.
The Abuja competition will also provide valuable experience for Steyn as she continues her transition from junior golf into broader elite amateur competition.
For Millard and Ferreira, the event offers another opportunity to build on their impressive seasons and demonstrate their ability to perform consistently at continental level.
A significant opportunity for South African women’s golf
South Africa’s participation in the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy reflects the country’s continued commitment to developing competitive women’s golf.
The achievements of the selected players demonstrate that the national amateur structure is producing golfers capable of succeeding in different competitive environments.
Millard’s national championship victory, Ferreira’s consistent performances and Steyn’s international junior success provide a strong foundation for the team’s campaign.
Their selection also sends an encouraging message to younger golfers who aspire to represent South Africa internationally.
It demonstrates that dedication, consistent performances and participation in competitive development programmes can create opportunities to progress towards national selection.
As the championship approaches, attention will turn to Abuja, where South Africa’s trio will have the opportunity to compete for continental recognition.
The results will ultimately be determined on the golf course. However, the selection itself already represents an important achievement for the three players and for the broader development of women’s amateur golf in South Africa.
With Charlotte Millard, Isabella Ferreira and Lourenda Steyn carrying the national colours, South Africa will enter the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy with an exciting combination of experience, consistency and emerging talent.
The challenge now is to convert their impressive individual achievements into a successful collective performance against Africa’s leading women’s amateur teams.
