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22nd January 2018 | Sunshine Ladies Tour

Matharu managing big Sunshine Ladies Tour expectations

Kiran Matharu has set herself a couple of lofty goals as she starts her second season on the Sunshine Ladies Tour with her title defence in the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open this week.

The English golfer spearheads a 27-strong international challenge that will battle the local line-up in the season-opening event of 2018 at Pretoria Country Club from 23-25 January.

“Last year was such a great experience and I am incredibly excited to be back,” Matharu said. “We played at some of the most stunning courses in South Africa. It’s fantastic to leave the snow behind and start the season in sunny weather.”

Matharu travelled to South Africa last year to revive her declining career.

“I nearly gave it all up at the end of 2015,” said the former golf prodigy from Leeds. “I was in constant pain and no-one knew why. I was ready to throw the towel in when I was finally diagnosed with locked hips. After months of intensive rehabilitation, I decided to give it one more shot.”

Her decision to compete on the local circuit paid off in ways Matharu could not imagine.

She pronounced herself with a magnificent wire-to-wire victory in the Ladies Tshwane Open at Zwartkop Country Club and shot to the top of the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies Points Race with five further top three finishes. However, she had to settle for the second place cut of the R1-million bonus pool after Ashleigh Buhai won the season-long chase with a runner-up finish in the final event at Millvale.

Matharu is relishing the chance to go up against South Africa’s top talents again.

“It was brilliant to be in contention week after week and to play against top calibre players like Ashleigh, Lee-Anne (Pace), Stacy (Bregman) and Nicole (Garcia) last year,” she said.

“My first season surpassed all my expectations and I’ve set the bar quite high this year. The top priorities are a strong start in the Canon Tshwane Ladies Open to set the momentum for the season and, of course, the Investec South African Women’s Open.”

Matharu finished joint third in last year’s national championship, but this year, the Investec South African Women’s Open dangles a huge carrot.

“The winner gains exemption on the Ladies European Tour, so it’s massive,” said Matharu. “And the winner of the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit gets a spot in a top Ladies European Tour event, so I have my eye on that, as well.

“There are so many great things about the Sunshine Ladies Tour this year. With some of the sponsors throwing in together, like Canon South Africa and the City of Tshwane this week, the schedule is more compact and it offers great prize money. It’s in the perfect slot at the start of the season for players like me who didn’t get into the events in Australia, LET Access Series players and the ones who missed out at qualifying school.

“We head back to Europe tournament ready after seven highly competitive events, so it’s a no-brainer, especially if you add the Investec South African Women’s Open into the mix.”

Matharu expects tough opposition from the leading South African players, who will also be keen to get a foot on the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit ladder over the first two events.

“Lee-Anne won her Ladies Tshwane Open title here at Pretoria Country Club and I’ve been told that Ashleigh won the SA Women’s Amateur Stroke Play and Match Play here, so they will both be feeling positive. Carrie Park from South Korea is also back. She won the SA Women’s Masters and the Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic, sponsored by Canon, last year and she will have gained a lot of experience on the Ladies PGA Tour in Korea.

“I can only control what I do. I’ll take it shot-by-shot and see where I am at heading down the back nine on Thursday. If I’m in the mix, I will push really hard. It would be great to win the first one; it really sets you up for the rest of the tour.”

 


11th December 2017 | Sunshine Ladies Tour

Eaton wins Sun PinkStig finale

Melissa Eaton held her nerve down the stretch to capture the three-day Sun PinkStig Series Finale crown at Sun City this December.

Eaton, 32, signed for a two-over-par 74 to claim a four-shot win at the weather-affected tournament, which had been reduced to a 36-holes after the second round was cancelled due to rain.

The South African, who fired an opening three-under 69, entered the final round with a sizable five-stroke cushion over Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann, and managed stay calm, albeit not under too much pressure

With no one behind her mounting a serious charge, the Louisiana State University graduate stamped her authority on the Gary Player Country Club layout with a birdie at the par-five ninth hole.

Melissa Eaton captured a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour title in the Sun PinkStig Series Finale at Sun City

Melissa Eaton captured a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour title in the Sun PinkStig Series Finale at Sun City

Eaton, who finished third in the penultimate Sun PinkStig event at Parkview Golf Club in October, was able to nullify the threat posed by the demanding inward half, and completed her march to the finish with a bogey at the last.

“Winning is the best feeling in the world, especially to do it on the Gary Player Country Club, which is one of the toughest courses. I knew that I needed to stay calm and follow-up my opening 69 with a decent round, so I am happy to get the job done,” said Eaton.

While Eaton reigned supreme at the home of Africa’s Major, her playing partner’s, Bredenhann and Kim Williams finished in a tie for fourth at seven-over-par.

Bredenhann carded a closing 77 and Williams signed for a 76.

Monique Smit, who was paired in the second last group on the final day, did her utmost to reel in the runaway victor. Smit, who has played on the European Ladies Tour, went round in one-under-par 71 to end her week in sole possession of second place at three-over-par.

“It was an awesome final round and I couldn’t be more chuffed with closing with a 71,” said Smit.

The Fancourt professional also lauded the efforts made by organisers.

“It has been such a quiet year for ladies competitive golf as tournament play concluded in March already, so the Sun PinkStig Series platform has been amazing to us. It’s allowed us to hone our skills again, and to build some confidence ahead of the next season.”

Zethu Myeki’s star continues to rise.

Myeki, 24, a member of the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation, came home with a brilliant 71 to complete the podium and finish as the leading amateur.

Zethu Myeki claimed the Leading Amateur prize with her third place finish

Zethu Myeki claimed the Leading Amateur prize with her third place finish in the Sun PinkStig Series Finale at Sun City

Sun PinkStig Series Finale

“I played so well and made a couple of birdies. I always knew I could come back after a disappointing first round (78). Us amateurs are not scared to mix it with the professionals,” said Myeki

Earlier this year, Myeki wrote her name into the history books with a course record 64 at Kloof Country Club during the final round of the KwaZulu-Natal Golf Championships.

Talented-teenager Ivanna Samu carded consecutive rounds of 76 to end her bid in the North West Province at eight-over.

Mae Cornforth had to settle for seventh-place after starting the final day joint-third, while there was a five-way tie for eighth.

While the Sun PinkStig Series continues to make great strides, it has notably provided women professionals with the ideal platform to remain competitive between the Sunshine Ladies Tour Seasons.

The opening Sunshine Ladies Tour event commences with the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open taking place at Pretoria Country Club from 23 January 2018.

Written by Andrew Hope and released by Unimedia Pro and Pink Stig.