LIA Naidoo’s star quality keeps rising on the golf courses around the world. The pint sized golfer recently won the Junior Africa Golf Championship. The plucky 7-year-old shot 44, 43 and 37 in the process qualifying for the Malaysian World Championships, which starts this week.

Her performances have also seen her secure an invitation to play in the European Championship in Scotland in May next year.

She added another accolade to her growing list when she was named the SuperSport Let’s Play (Post Newspaper) Star of the Year Award earlier this month.

“I’m looking forward to playing in Malaysia. I’ve never played on any courses there and I’ve set my goal of finishing in the top five. If I go further that would be fantastic but I’m determined to do South Africa proud,” she said.

Speaking of her star of the year award, Lia said she was ‘extremely excited’ to win the award.

“I was so shocked. I didn’t expect to win but it was a nice feeling. It was exciting collecting the award,” she said.

In August this year, the Victory Christian Academy (VCA) pupil finished 11th at the World Championships of Junior Golf at Pinehurst in North Carolina. The uMhlanga resident was one of the youngest competitors from South Africa and the world who competed at the the champs.