Hamilton shines in the rain to win Investec SA Women’s Open

German engineering graduate Schmidt builds Investec SA Women’s Open lead

Alexander chasing her place in Investec SA Women’s Open history

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – With three Rugby World Cup winners in her pro-am fourball on Wednesday, Casandra Alexander is chasing her own “World Cup” this week as she seeks to add her name alongside the greats of South African golf with a victory in the Investec South African Women’s Open at Royal Cape Golf Club.
 
Rugby World Cup winners Schalk Burger, Schalk Brits and Steven Kitshoff all turned up to play an official pro-am round with South Africa’s top-ranked Alexander, who this week climbed to a career high of 40^th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
 
And after losing in a playoff for last week’s Joburg Ladies Open, Alexander has her sights firmly set on the Investec South African Women’s Open crown.
 
“I’m excited for the week. This is the big one. It’s our home title. It’s the one every South African wants to win. It’s definitely a special week,” she said at the venerable Royal Cape Golf Club ahead of Thursday’s first round of this Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned tournament.
 
Alexander finished second in this event last year, and also has previous finishes of fourth and seventh in her national Open. As she continues her climb up the world rankings and as the dominant face of South African women’s professional golf, a victory in the Investec South African Women’s Open would be a very timely confirmation of her undoubted rise in the game.
 
“I actually got a Facebook reminder of my post last year after I won the Investec Order of Merit, and I’d written that I was really happy to jump into the top 100 in the world. It’s pretty cool to see that this time last year I was top 100 and now I’m top 40. Hopefully we keep going. It’s something I’m proud of, but at the same time you have to keep working on it because it’s so easy to drop down again,” she said.
 
“I’ve been playing this golf course since I was young. We’ve also had a few Sunshine Ladies Tour events here over the years. I like the course. It’s a great layout and if the wind gets going it can be tough. You’ve also got to hit good tee shots with the trees here. It is very soft with all the rain we’ve had so I think the scores will be low. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
 
Her own challenge comes at a time when Investec have strengthened their significant commitment to the women’s game in South Africa.
 
“This is our ninth consecutive year as title sponsor of the Investec South African Women’s Open, and we’re at the oldest golf club in South Africa this week. We’ve deepened our investment in South African women’s golf with a five-year renewal of our sponsorship of the Investec South African Women’s Open, the Investec Order of Merit, the Investec Homegrown Award and our sponsored golfers, and from next year we’ll be adding R1 million to the prize purse as we continue to address pay parity and elevate the national Open, and give our women’s professionals and the talent we have in this country the opportunity to play, perform and earn,” said Peta Dixon, Head of Sponsorships, Investec.

Laisne wins Joburg Ladies Open after marathon playoff

Alexander three off the pace in Joburg Ladies Open

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s top-ranked Casandra Alexander is three strokes off the lead after the first round of the Joburg Ladies Open at Randpark Golf Club on Thursday as she chases her second title in this Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour event.
 
Alexander opened with a four-under-par 69 and is chasing the shared lead of French duo Agathe Laisne and Ariane Klotz, and American Brianna Navarrosa on seven under par.
 
The leading trio are one stroke clear of the field after an opening day where a soft and receptive golf course made for good scoring.
 
Alexander teed off her round on the 10^th and shrugged off an early bogey with five birdies, an eagle and a further two bogeys thereafter.
 
“I wasn’t too worried about starting with a bogey on 10. That is one of the tougher holes on this course, so my caddie and I said in our prep for the week that if we could make par there all week we’d be happy because it is a tougher hole. So I didn’t panic with that opening bogey. It wasn’t a solid round. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, but a tidy rollercoaster,” she said.
 
She briefly held a share of the on-course lead with her eagle on the par-five second hole, her 11^th hole.
 
“I hit a really good tee shot and had a nice number for my four iron in, so just trusted it off the left with the wind from that direction. And I rolled the putt in. An easy way to make an eagle, I guess.”
 
Alexander is looking to become only the second multiple winner of the Joburg Ladies Open following her victory in 2021, and which would see her join Ashleigh Buhai as the only players to have achieved this.
 
“It’s still early days, but it’s nice to shoot an under par round on day one. I had a disappointing bogey finish with a three putt, but that’s golf and it happens. I’ve hopefully got three days of good golf to come.”
 
At the top of the leaderboard, Laisne dropped only one shot in her round. She arrived in South Africa in terrific form having claimed her maiden victory on the Ladies European Tour in Australia in February and a runners-up finish in the Women’s Australian Open in March. She’s currently second on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit behind Alexander, and is one of the few players who chooses not to have a caddie.
 
“I like to do my own thing. I don’t have to worry about when the caddie is arriving at the course. I can work according to my own timing,” she said.

SCORES

66 – Agathe Laisne (FRA)
66 – Brianna Navarrosa (USA), Ariane Klotz (FRA)
67 – Laura Beveridge (SCO)
67 – Justice Bosio (AUS), Jess Baker (BRI)
68 – Pia Babnik (SVN)
68 – Lydia Hall (WAL), Celine Herbin (FRA)
69 – Amy Lee (USA)
69 – Emie Peronnin (FRA), Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP), Maha Haddioui (MAR), Casandra Alexander, Cara Gainer (ENG), Louisa Carlbom (SWE), Dorthea Forbrigd (NOR), Hannah Screen (ENG), Morgane Metraux (SUI), Tina Mazarino (NOR)
70 – Romy Meekers (NED)
70 – Pranavi Urs (IND), Blanca Fernandez (ESP), Alice Hewson (ENG), Nadia van der Westhuizen, Harang Lee (ESP), Vanessa Knecht (SUI), Verena Gimmy (GER), Kelsey Bennett (AUS), April Angurasaranee (THA), Camille Chevalier (FRA), Kirsten Rudgeley (AUS), Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER), Emma Falcher (FRA), Madelene Stavnar (NOR), Chloe Salort (FRA), Sophie Witt (GER)
71 – Annabell Fuller (ENG)
71 – Ana Pelaez Trivino (ESP), Kajsa Arwefjall (SWE), Amelia Garvey (NZL), Olivia Cowan (GER), Darcey Harry (WAL), Kiera Floyd, Corinne Viden (SWE), Lily May Humphreys (ENG), Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (DEN), Sofie Kibsgaard (DEN), Danielle du Toit, Momoka Kobori (NZL), Anna Foster (IRL), Anna Zanusso (ITA), Caitlyn Macnab
72 – Ana Dawson (IMN)
72 – Tvesa Malik (IND), Emma Grechi (FRA), Thalia Martin (ENG), Gabrielle Venter, Alexandra Swayne (ISV), Lorna McClymont (SCO), Alexandra Forsterling (GER), Diksha Dagar (IND), Charlotte Heath (ENG), Aunchisa Utama (THA), Luca Thompson (WAL), Lucie Vachova (CZE), Alessia Nobilio (ITA), Meghan MacLaren (ENG), Esme Hamilton (ENG), Lee-Anne Pace, Ginnie Ding (HKG), Anna Morgan (USA), Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ)
73 – Patricie Mackova (CZE)
73 – Cara Gorlei, Amaia Latorre (ESP), Olivia Mehaffey (NIR), Zane Kleynhans, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), Anne-Charlotte Mora (FRA), Amy Taylor (ENG), Lois Lau (FRA), Celina Sattelkau (GER), Hannah Burke (ENG), Tereza Melecka (CZE)
74 – Gabriella Cowley (ENG)
74 – Hannah Darling (SCO), Carolin Kauffmann (GER), Lianna Bailey (ENG), Anna Huang (CAN), Klara Davidson Spilkova (CZE)
75 – Lisa Coetzer (a)
75 – Marianne Skarpnord (NOR), Doris Chen (TPE), Emma Spitz (AUT), Marta Martin (ESP), Avani Prashanth (IND), Katharina Mühlbauer (AUT), Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP), Ayako Uehara (JPN), Louise Rydqvist (SWE), Fernanda Lira (MEX), Gemma Clews (ENG), Amalie Leth-Nissen (DEN)
76 – Maria Parra (ESP)
76 – Emily Penttila (FIN), Stacy Bregman, Agathe Sauzon (FRA), Roberta Liti (ITA), Lucie Malchirand (FRA)
77 – Jordan Rothman
77 – Hitaashee Bakshi (IND), Sanna Nuutinen (FIN), Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA)
78 – Kaiyuree Moodley
78 – Andrea Lignell (SWE), Ellen Hume (ENG)
80 – Thalia Kirby (ENG)
80 – Hayley Davis (ENG)
81 – Aine Donegan (IRL)

SA’s Alexander leads top-class field for Joburg Ladies Open

JOHANNESBURG – Casandra Alexander is back on home fairways this week as she leads the South African challenge in a Joburg Ladies Open at Randpark Golf Club that has drawn the top-ranked players from both the Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour for this co-sanctioned event.
 
Alexander returns in some of the best form of her career, having risen to number one on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and now the highest ranked South African at 41^st in the world.
 
According to her coach, Grant Veenstra, who works with many of South Africa’s top men’s and women’s professionals, Alexander has the potential to become even better.
 
“I definitely think she is a world top-10 player. No doubt. She has always been an athlete and a great competitor who doesn’t like to lose. But now we’ve worked really hard on a consistency to her swing that is showing itself in her performances,” he says.
 
Alexander returns as the last South African champion of the Joburg Ladies Open in 2021 and the runner-up last year. But she’s expecting a tough challenge from a top-class field this week.
 
“There are a lot more Europeans coming out to the Sunshine Ladies Tour. Some really good players are coming out here, and that’s what our Tour needs. We need that push of some good young players and then the experienced campaigners so that our quality of golf goes up,” she said.
 
As for her own game, Alexander is in a good place for the challenge of Randpark’s championship Firethorn course.
 
“My ball striking and iron play have always been my strong suite, and I think it’s important to maintain the skills you have while working on other areas of your game. I’ve been focusing on the short game a lot this year. Putting in particular has been a big focus point for me this year.”
 
With Alexander in the field as well as France’s Agathe Laisne and Australia’s Kelsey Bennett, the Ladies European Tour’s top three-ranked players are in Johannesburg.
 
From the Sunshine Ladies Tour, Germany’s Celina Sattelkau tees off as the leader on the Investec Order of Merit and is hunting a third victory on the Tour this season after winning the opening two tournaments. Fellow German Sophie Witt, currently second on the Investec Order of Merit, is also in the field this week.
 
The South African challenge is bolstered by Danielle du Toit, Gabrielle Venter and Nadia van der Westhuizen, who have all won on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this season.
 
And the presence of France’s Lois Lau means that every single winner on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this season will be playing this week.
 
It’s certainly a week of opportunity for the field, with the last two winners of the Joburg Ladies Open – Mimi Rhodes and Chiara Tamburlini – having both gone on to secure LPGA Tour cards thereafter.

Dominant Van Der Westhuizen wins ABSA Ladies invitational

Van Der Westhuizen grabs clubhouse lead in ABSA Ladies invitational

Birdie blitz carries Venter to Platinum Ladies Open title

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – South Africa’s Gabrielle Venter birdied her final two holes of regulation play and then beat Norway’s Madelene Stavnar in a playoff to win the Platinum Ladies Open at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate on Friday.

After her strong finish to close with a 66 and tie Stavnar for the lead on 16 under par following the Norwegian’s final round of 68, Venter carried that momentum into the playoff and birdied the first playoff hole to win and claim her second Sunshine Ladies Tour title.

“I am very happy. I played great, hit some really good shots, and didn’t make any mistakes, which is a positive. I am very happy with the win,” Venter said.

The South African duo of Bobbi Brown (66) and Jordan Rothman shared third place with Iceland’s Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (67) on 14 under par.

After battling with flu as well as a tough 27-hole second day cause by weather delays, Venter gave it everything during Friday’s final round knowing she had to be aggressive to stand a chance.

“I am still struggling with flu but the body held up fine and it didn’t hold me back today. Coming into the back nine I was hitting great shots but wasn’t making any putts, but I stayed consistent and aggressive. I knew on the 18^th hole I had to go for it and then hit a really good drive to give myself the opportunity to do so, and I made the birdie putt,” Venter said.

Playing the par-five 18^th again in the playoff, her gameplan was the same.

“I almost hit it in the exact same place, but unfortunately it ended up in a divot. I was thinking about laying it up, but decided it’s now or never. I just hit my five-wood as hard as I could, and it made it up the hill, which Ieft me with a two-putt for birdie and the win,” Venter said.

The Sunshine Ladies Tour will next head to Royal Johannesburg for the ABSA Ladies Invitational that will take place from 26-28 March.

SCORES

WN – Gabrielle Venter 69 65 66 WN
KO – Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 63 69 68 KO
202 – Bobbi Brown 69 67 66
202 – Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL) 69 66 67, Jordan Rothman 67 68 67
204 – Tina Mazarino (NOR) 68 67 69
204 – Sophie Witt (GER) 67 68 69, Ashley Chow (CAN) 69 66 69
205 – Louise Rydqvist (SWE) 70 67 68
205 – Rebecca Earl (ENG) 67 69 69, Lee-Anne Pace 68 68 69, Louisa Carlbom (SWE) 62 72 71
206 – Ellie Gower (ENG) 71 69 66
206 – Symone Henriques 67 68 71, Lorna McClymont (SCO) 68 65 73
207 – Elina Saksa (FIN) 66 71 70
207 – Anna Backman (FIN) 68 72 67, Danielle du Toit 66 69 72, Charlotte Liautier (FRA) 70 71 66, Kristyna Napoleaova (CZE) 67 67 73
208 – Verena Gimmy (GER) 68 70 70
208 – Emie Peronnin (FRA) 72 68 68, Theresa de Bochdanovits (GER) 66 70 72
209 – Tereza Melecka (CZE) 69 70 70
209 – Nadia van der Westhuizen 70 68 71, Thalia Martin (ENG) 69 68 72, Bronwyn Doeg 70 66 73, Olivia Mehaffey (NIR) 73 68 68, Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 71 70 68
210 – Hanna Tauber (GER) 68 70 72
210 – Anais Meyssonnier (FRA) 70 68 72, Canice Screene (IRL) 72 68 70
211 – Sofie Bringner (SWE) 69 69 73
211 – Anita Uwadia (BRI) 72 67 72, Hulda Gestsdottir (ISL) 71 70 70
212 – Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) 68 70 74
212 – Ekaterina Malakhova (WHT) 67 72 73, Cara Gorlei 68 72 72, Lora Assad 72 68 72, Michaela Vavrova (SVK) 72 68 72, Doris Chen (TPE) 70 70 72, Zane Kleynhans 71 70 71
213 – Zethu Myeki 71 66 76
213 – Lois Lau (FRA) 73 68 72, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 70 71 72
214 – Lianna Bailey (ENG) 68 69 77
214 – Lucie Malchirand (FRA) 71 70 73
216 – Gia Raad (a) 67 74 75

Missed the cut:-

142 – Chiara Horder (GER) 76 66
142 – Laura Beveridge (SCO) 70 72, Tandi McCallum 72 70, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 72 70, Ivanna van der Merwe 72 70, Hester Sicking (NED) 74 68, Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 71 71, Clara Pietri (SUI) 70 72, Tiffany Arafi (SUI) 71 71
143 – Mayka Hoogeboom (NED) 71 72
143 – Hannah Karg (GER) 73 70, Stacy Bregman 73 70, Gala Dumez (FRA) 72 71, Ffion Tynan (WAL) 72 71, Lindi Coetzee 68 75, Andrea Bergsdottir (ISL) 72 71, Rosie Belsham (ENG) 69 74
144 – Kelsey Nicholas 74 70
144 – Demi Flanagan 74 70, Megan Dennis (ENG) 74 70, Chloe Salort (FRA) 69 75
145 – Hayley Davis (ENG) 69 76
145 – Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 75 70, Romy Meekers (NED) 71 74, Nina Pegova (WHT) 68 77, Mia Eales-Smith (ENG) 71 74
146 – Lenanda Nel 75 71
146 – Claire Minter (ZIM) 71 75, Louise Duncan (SCO) 75 71
147 – Kaylah Williams 73 74
147 – Kaiyuree Moodley 70 77, Lynette Fourie 72 75, Ellen Hume (ENG) 75 72, Jess Baker (BRI) 75 72, Michelle Forsland (NOR) 75 72
148 – Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 74 74
148 – Cara Ford 71 77, Linn Wiberg (SWE) 73 75
149 – Taylor White (SCO) 74 75
149 – Chante van Zyl 76 73, Shawnelle de Lange 73 76
151 – Danielle Hardwick (ENG) 76 75
153 – Tara Baglione 77 76
154 – Naom Wafula (KEN) 79 75
154 – Ellandri van Heerden 75 79, Leontine Petit (FRA) 75 79
155 – Crizelda Terblanche 73 82
156 – Cheslyn Jacobs (a) 79 77
WDN – Yolanda Duma 80 WDN
RTD – Kiera Floyd 74 RTD, Kim de Klerk 84 RTD

Stavnar holds clubhouse lead in Platinum Ladies Open

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Norway’s Madelene Stavnar holds the clubhouse lead in the Platinum Ladies Open on 12 under par, and with the round set to be completed on Friday morning following the weather delays on the opening day.

The round will be completed on Friday morning before the start of the final round.

Stavnar managed to complete her second round on Thursday and signed for a 69 to lead by a single stroke over Scotland’s Lorna McClymont, who posted a 65.

The best placed South African after the second day is Gabrielle Venter (65), who had to navigate 27 holes to complete her first and second rounds. She is in joint third place on 10 under par with Kristyna Napoleaova (67), and Louisa Carlbom, who is through nine holes of her second round.

 “I started off a bit slow today as I am a bit sick with flu. I wasn’t feeling my best at all,” said Venter.

“It was tough having to go out again today. But my second round was a great round. My ball striking was very good. I felt like I was playing very nicely and could have probably made a few more birdies. But all-in-all it was a really good round, especially for such a long day. I just battled it out today.”

Venter is hunting a third Sunshine Ladies Tour title this week.

“I will definitely stay aggressive, but I’ll keep taking it shot by shot. As I’m not feeling well, I don’t want to waste too much energy by thinking too much. So I will stay aggressive and see what happens,” Venter said.

SCORES (*incomplete round)  

-12 – Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 63 69
-11 – Lorna McClymont (SCO) 68 65
-10 – Gabrielle Venter 69 65
-10 – Kristyna Napoleaova (CZE) 67 67, Louisa Carlbom (SWE) 62 (Par) [10]
-9 – Ashley Chow (CAN) 69 66
-9 – Jordan Rothman 67 68, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL) 69 66, Danielle du Toit 66 69, Sophie Witt (GER) 67 68, Tina Mazarino (NOR) 68 67, Symone Henriques 67 68
-8 – Lee-Anne Pace 68 68
-8 – Bronwyn Doeg 70 66, Elina Nummenpaa (FIN) 68 (-4) [14], Theresa de Bochdanovits (GER) 66 (-2) [13], Rebecca Earl (ENG) 67 (-3) [9]
-7 – Zethu Myeki 71 66
-7 – Thalia Martin (ENG) 69 68, Elina Saksa (FIN) 66 (-1) [12], Bobbi Brown 69 (-4) [12], Sofie Bringner (SWE) 69 (-4) [11]
-6 – Anais Meyssonnier (FRA) 70 68
-6 – Nadia van der Westhuizen 70 68, Verena Gimmy (GER) 68 70, Hanna Tauber (GER) 68 (-2) [13], Charlotte Liautier (FRA) 70 (-4) [10]
-5 – Anita Uwadia (BRI) 72 67
-5 – Tereza Melecka (CZE) 69 70, Ekaterina Malakhova (WHT) 67 (Par) [16], Lindi Coetzee 68 (-1) [11], Lianna Bailey (ENG) 68 (-1) [10]
-4 – Cara Gorlei 68 72
-4 – Ellie Gower (ENG) 71 69, Emie Peronnin (FRA) 72 68, Lora Assad 72 68, Anna Backman (FIN) 68 (Par) [14], Canice Screene (IRL) 72 (-4) [13], Clara Pietri (SUI) 70 (-2) [11]
-3 – Olivia Mehaffey (NIR) 73 68
-3 – Lois Lau (FRA) 73 68, Lucie Malchirand (FRA) 71 70, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 70 71, Zane Kleynhans 71 70, Gia Raad (a) 67 (+2) [14], Louise Rydqvist (SWE) 70 (-1) [12], Doris Chen (TPE) 70 (-1) [10]

Missed the cut:-

-2 – Chiara Horder (GER) 76 66
-2 – Laura Beveridge (SCO) 70 72, Tandi McCallum 72 70, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 72 70, Ivanna van der Merwe 72 70, Gala Dumez (FRA) 72 (-2) [16], Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 71 (-1) [14], Hester Sicking (NED) 74 (-4) [14], Ffion Tynan (WAL) 72 (-2) [12]
-1 – Mayka Hoogeboom (NED) 71 72
-1 – Hannah Karg (GER) 73 70, Stacy Bregman 73 70, Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 71 (Par) [12], Michaela Vavrova (SVK) 72 (-1) [11], Chloe Salort (FRA) 69 (+2) [10], Tiffany Arafi (SUI) 71 (Par) [9]
Par – Kelsey Nicholas 74 70
Par – Demi Flanagan 74 70, Mia Eales-Smith (ENG) 71 (+1) [13], Rosie Belsham (ENG) 69 (+3) [10], Jess Baker (BRI) 75 (-3) [10]
+1 – Hayley Davis (ENG) 69 76
+1 – Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 75 70, Romy Meekers (NED) 71 74, Nina Pegova (WHT) 68 (+5) [14], Hulda Gestsdottir (ISL) 71 (+2) [9]
+2 – Lenanda Nel 75 71
+2 – Shawnelle de Lange 73 (+1) [13], Claire Minter (ZIM) 71 (+3) [12], Megan Dennis (ENG) 74 (Par) [11], Linn Wiberg (SWE) 73 (+1) [11], Michelle Forsland (NOR) 75 (-1) [10]
+3 – Kaylah Williams 73 74
+3 – Kaiyuree Moodley 70 77, Lynette Fourie 72 (+3) [12], Ellen Hume (ENG) 75 (Par) [12], Andrea Bergsdottir (ISL) 72 (+3) [10], Louise Duncan (SCO) 75 (Par) [10]
+4 – Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 74 74
+4 – Cara Ford 71 77, Taylor White (SCO) 74 (+2) [14]
+6 – Chante van Zyl 76 (+2) [13]
+7 – Danielle Hardwick (ENG) 76 75
+8 – Cheslyn Jacobs (a) 79 (+1) [16]
+8 – Ellandri van Heerden 75 (+5) [14], Crizelda Terblanche 73 (+7) [14], Leontine Petit (FRA) 75 (+5) [10]
+9 – Tara Baglione 77 76
+10 – Naom Wafula (KEN) 79 75
WDN – Yolanda Duma 80 WDN
RTD – Kiera Floyd 74 RTD [3], Kim de Klerk 84 RTD [6]