SLT primed for summer

A lucrative R600,000 bonus pool in the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies and a new event in Cape Town are among the highlights of the 2015 Sunshine Ladies Tour schedule announced today.

The season got underway in spectacular fashion when the country’s top ranked Lee-Anne Pace won the Cell C SA Women’s Open at San Lameer in October and will resume with a further seven events in February and March next year.

Women’s PGA of South (WPGA) chairperson, Margie Whitehouse, commended the continued support of the sponsors and the Sunshine Tour and welcomed new sponsor, The City of Cape Town.

“Following the success of our inaugural Sunshine Ladies Tour, we are delighted to have retained the same number of tournaments, thanks to the support of Investec, Dimension Data, Sun International, The City of Tshwane and SuperSport,” said Whitehouse.

“We are indebted to the Sunshine Tour for bringing The City of Cape Town into the fold and we look forward to a very successful inaugural Cape Town Ladies Open in February.

“Despite the uncertain economic conditions that currently prevail, the continued support from our sponsors underline their commitment to help the WPGA grow the domestic women’s game and to provide a competitive platform for our top golfers and emerging stars on home soil.”

Sunshine Tour chief executive Selwyn Nathan praised Investec for boosting the season-ending Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies in March with a R600,000 bonus pool.

“The Sunshine Tour’s Chase to the Investec Cup has proven very successful over the last few years,” Nathan said.

“With the men’s and ladies events being played concurrently, the addition of a bonus-pool for the ladies is not only a major added incentive, but it will spur the 2015 Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies to the same thrilling climax as it has done for the Sunshine Tour.”

Only the top 10 available players on the Order of Merit will qualify to compete for the R100,000 prize money on offer in the season-finale. The winner will earn a cheque worth R30,000, while the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies leader at the end of the season will take a R250,000 cut from the bonus-pool.

The Sun International Ladies Challenge, the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies at Glendower, the Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am and the inaugural Cape Town Ladies Open will be played in February, followed by the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, the Tshwane Ladies Open and the final Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies in March.

Whitehouse hopes to make further announcements in the near future.

“Our 2015 season has a wonderful spread of events that traverse the country, but we hope to add a few more tournaments to the schedule,” she said.

“Irrespective, we started the season strongly and will finish it strongly, just as we did in our inaugural season.”

Meanwhile reigning Investec Cup for Ladies champion Pace also hopes to return to defend her title.

“I am leading the Chase to the Investec Cup, but I am playing a full schedule on the LPGA Tour this year, so I am not as free as last year to compete the full Sunshine Ladies Tour season,” Pace said.

“However, I had a fantastic time competing at home last year and am going to do my best to support some of the events and try to take up my title defence.”

2015 SUNSHINE LADIES TOUR SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY
9 – 10  Sun International Ladies Challenge
Lost City Golf Course
R 100 000

12 – 13  Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies
Glendower Golf Club
R 100 000

21 – 22  Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am*
Oubaai Golf Club & Fancourt Outeniqua
R150 000 prize fund & R25 000 pro-am prize fund

25 – 26  Cape Town Ladies Open
Royal Cape Golf Club
R 100 000

MARCH
09 – 10  Supersport Ladies Challenge
Zwartkop Country Club
R 100 000

16 – 17  Ladies Tshwane Open* 
Pretoria Country Club
R 100 000

20 – 22  Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies*
Millvale Private Retreat & Lost City Golf Course
R100 000 prize fund & R600 000 bonus pool

* denotes inside tournament Pro-Am                    

PHOTO – Lee-Anne Pace; credit Justin Klusener