Sunshine Ladies Tour poised for glorious 2016

It’s that time of the year when big money meets big opportunities for local and international professional ladies and upcoming amateurs. And with more than R2.5-million to play for, the stakes are loaded.

Exciting incentives in store for the 2016 Sunshine Ladies Tour include a bonus pool worth R1-million for the season-ending Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies, record prize money and 54-hole tournaments.

The third Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies will launch with the R250 00 South African Women’s Open at San Lameer Country Club at the end of November. The season resumes in the new year with a bumper run of seven tournaments leading up to the season-ending Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies at Millvale Private Retreat from 10 – 12 March 2016.

All eight of the established events in 2016 will have a minimum prize fund of R200 000, which is double what the players competed for last season.

Like the last two years, every tournament will carry points for the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies, which culminates with the final event in the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies.

However, unlike previous years, the 10 players who qualify for this year’s season-finale will compete for a massive R1-million bonus pool. This marks an increase of R400 000 over last year’s bonus pool and will add to the excitement and rivalry in this season’s Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies.

“The Sunshine Ladies Tour has reached a new milestone and we are set for a festival of women’s golf in South Africa,” said Women’s PGA of South Africa (WPGA) chairperson Margie Whitehouse.

“The additional investment from Investec is an incredible boost for the Sunshine Ladies Tour. It represents a real breakthrough for South Africa’s professionals, and provides the kind of spark the Sunshine Ladies Tour can give to a young player’s career. We are incredibly grateful to Investec, the Sunshine Tour and our sponsors for their unwavering support of women’s professional golf in South Africa.”

Double Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies champion Lee-Anne Pace also welcomed the new incentives.

“The increased prize money definitely makes the Sunshine Ladies Tour a very attractive proposition at the start of the season,” said the Pearl Valley golfer.

“The R1-million bonus pool for the final event in the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies is a huge reward for the players supporting the Sunshine Ladies Tour. The Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies will undoubtedly be a lot more competitive next year with such a massive incentive to play for.

“I also think it has been a fantastic decision to increase the events to 54 holes, which will benefit both the professionals and the amateurs hoping to gain experience on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.”

Heather Casey from Investec said they look forward to another successful season with the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

“It was very exciting to be part of the launch of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and to watch it grow in the last two years. We have enjoyed being a part of this process and we look forward to seeing which new champions will emerge in the 2016 season,” said Heather

2016 SUNSHINE LADIES TOUR SCHEDULE
29 November – 1 December
R250 000 South African Women’s Open
San Lameer Country Club

JANUARY 2016
18-20    R200 000 Ladies Joburg Open
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club
25-27    R200 000 Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies
Houghton Golf Club

FEBRUARY 2016
2-4        R200 000 Ladies Tshwane Open
Zwartkop Country Club
10-12    R200 000 Cape Town Ladies Open
Royal Cape Golf Club
19-21    R200 000 Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am (R25 000 pro-am prize fund)
George Golf Club, Kingswood Golf Club and Outeniqua Course at Fancourt
24-26    R200 000 Sun International Ladies Challenge
Gary Player Country Club

MARCH 2016
2-4        R200 000 SuperSport Ladies Challenge
Huddle Park Golf Club
10-12    Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies with R1-million bonus pool
Millvale Private Retreat

PHOTO – Double Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies champion Lee-Anne Pace; credit Justin Klusener.