15-year-old Lisa Coetzer completed a wire-to-wire win at the Africa Amateur Women’s Invitational at Royal Johannesburg on Friday, closing with a final-round 72 to finish level-par 216 and claim a two-shot victory.
Coetzer, from Ekurhuleni, signed for three straight rounds of 72 on the East Course to hold off fellow South African Lourenda Steyn, sealing a breakthrough title after finishing third on debut at Leopard Creek last year.
It was also the latest return on a relentless 2025 schedule. Coetzer played 19 ranked events last year, registering six wins — the North West Open Championship (February), the Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl Stroke Play Championship (April), the Limpopo Women’s Junior (June), the KZNLGA Junior Championship (July), and a double in October at the SA Women’s 72-Hole Teams Championship and the Mpumalanga Open & Junior Championship. She added four runner-up finishes to a standout season and has now started 2026 on a high note.
The final round swung early when Steyn made an eagle at the par-five eighth to surge into the lead, but Coetzer steadied herself with a key birdie at the ninth.
“That putt on nine changed everything,” Coetzer said. “It gave me belief going into the back nine.”
Coetzer stayed composed as Steyn dropped shots late at 15 and 16, then produced the decisive moment with a nine-foot birdie at 17. She finished in style with a bunker save and closing birdie at 18 to seal the title.
“My mental game was my biggest weapon today,” she said. “I stayed present and trusted myself.”
The win opens a major set of opportunities for the teenager, earning her starts in The Women’s Amateur Championship, the Joburg Ladies Open, the Investec South African Women’s Open, the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions, and Final Qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open.
Steyn, 16, recovered from an opening 74 with rounds of 73 and 71 to take runner-up honours.
Defending champion Gia Raad birdied the final three holes to close with a 74 and share third at eight-over-par 224 with Charlotte Millard.
