Casandra conquers Serengeti to claim Absa Ladies Invitational title

KEMPTON PARK, Ekurhuleni – Playing what she described as “flawless golf”, Casandra Alexander fired a superb six-under-par 66 on Saturday to finish on 12-under-par overall and win the R1.2 million Absa Ladies Invitational by four strokes at Serengeti Estates on Saturday.

The 24-year-old had begun the final day tied for the lead with fellow South African Kiera Floyd, but Alexander went out in 34 before a brilliant back nine saw her collect an eagle and two birdies to romp to victory.

While Floyd struggled to a 77 on Saturday and finished 11 strokes behind, Alexander’s closest challenger was Spaniard Harang Lee, who also shot a 66 to finish on eight-under-par.

“It was definitely very close to flawless golf. I played unbelievably well and I am really happy,” Alexander said after her fifth Sunshine Ladies Tour title. “I had one or two drops early on which was maybe a bit of nerves, but I must have had 10 15-foot putts and I just couldn’t miss the first few.

“So I just tried to give myself birdie opportunities and I did manage to sink a few more. I played smart, but still aggressively and had a hot putter. Everything was solid, I hot my irons really well.”
Next week Alexander will defend her Jabra Ladies Classic title at Glendower, and then follows six consecutive weeks of European Tour action, including two co-sanctioned events in South Africa.

“I’m going to take a lot of confidence into Glendower, I’m hitting the ball well and that is a ball-striker’s course. And then it’s the two co-sanctioned events. I have a lot of events coming up, eight weeks in a row, and hopefully I can hit the ball even better and make more putts. I will carry this win with me,” Alexander said.

Her eagle on the 483m par-five 11^th came after a superb four-iron over the flag.

“I kept missing my drives slightly left, so I decided to hit a little cut off the tee and hit an unbelievable drive. I then hit a grip-down four-iron 185 metres into the wind, another little cut, and I hit it flush straight at the pin. I told it to sit down and it pitched five metres behind, leaving me with a 15-foot putt for eagle.

“That kind of separated myself, allowed the nerves to settle. I just played smart from there, I didn’t need to do anything crazy. I held things together well, it was all really tidy and I had two lip-outs in the last three holes,” Alexander said.

The Johannesburger backed up her eagle with birdies at the 12^th and 15tgh holes, and then her challengers were spent.

South Africa’s Cara Gorlei also shot a 66 to finish third on five-under-par, with compatriot Stacy Bregman fourth on four-under after a 69.

SCORES:

204 – Casandra Alexander 68 70 66
208 – Harang Lee (ESP) 73 69 66
211 – Cara Gorlei 73 72 66
212 – Stacy Bregman 70 73 69
214 – Tereza Melecka (CZE) 72 75 67, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 72 72 70
215 – Lee-Anne Pace 70 71 74, Kiera Floyd 67 71 77
216 – Tandi McCallum 76 70 70, Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) 73 70 73
217 – Romy Meekers (NED) 75 73 69, Ariane Klotz (FRA) 72 77 68, Lenanda van der Watt 73 73 71, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 74 71 72, Zethu Myeki 72 72 73
218 – Linette Holmslykke (DEN) 72 74 72, Tvesa Malik (IND) 72 72 74
219 – Hanna Tauber (GER) 75 70 74, Jane Turner (SCO) 74 77 68
220 – Danielle du Toit 74 73 73, Nina Pegova (WHT) 72 77 71, Nicole Garcia 72 77 71, Lora Assad 74 76 70, Isabella van Rooyen 72 72 76
221 – Florentyna Parker (ENG) 72 75 74, Tina Mazarino (NOR) 76 71 74, Verena Gimmy (GER) 72 73 76, Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (SWE) 72 72 77, Katharina Keilich (GER) 77 74 70
222 – Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 81 68 73, Ridhima Dilawari (IND) 74 73 75, Alexandra Swayne (ISV) 74 76 72
223 – Gina Da Silva (a) 77 72 74
224 – Judith van der Voort (NED) 77 72 75, Emie Peronnin (FRA) 74 76 74
225 – Kelsey Nicholas 72 79 74, Lauren Taylor (ENG) 78 73 74
227 – Michelle Forsland (NOR) 73 76 78, Kaylan Boshoff 77 73 77, Lindi Coetzee 75 76 76, Michelle Leigh 73 79 75
229 – Ivanna Samu 78 74 77
234 – Tara Griebenow 70 82 82
Missed the cut:-
153 – Suzette Venter 78 75, Kristin Sim (NOR) 75 78, Helen Kreuzer (GER) 76 77
154 – Lejan Lewthwaite 80 74
155 – Chante van Zyl 77 78, Larissa Du Preez 77 78, Gabrielle Venter 78 77
157 – Nadia van der Westhuizen 80 77
158 – Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 79 79, Chante de Lange 82 76
159 – Jahaanvie Walia (ZAM) 82 77, Nicola Schoeman (a) 77 82
160 – Carey Dodds 80 80, Shawnelle de Lange 83 77
161 – Christina Gloor (SUI) 81 80
162 – Lea Ndjobouela (GAB) 78 84, Bronwyn Doeg 83 79
165 – Federica Biscuoli (ITA) 84 81, Brittney-Fay Berger 84 81
166 – Leontine Petit (FRA) 86 80, Crizelda Terblanche 82 84
168 – Yolanda Duma 89 79
170 – Shamiso Makwara (ZIM) 83 87
176 – Loice Chingono (ZIM) 89 87