South African women’s golf is booming with the announcement on Monday of exciting developments which will see the 2018 Sunshine Ladies Tour offering a record prize money of R4 450-million.
In addition to this cash injection, there is a new title sponsor for the SA Women’s Open, two upgraded events with four new courses being used as part of the schedule.
“The Sunshine Ladies Tour has shown tremendous growth since 2014, when we launched with eight events, totalling R1 075-million in prize money,’ said Sunshine Tour Chief Executive Selwyn Nathan.
“Last year the total purse was just under R3-million and the top 10 ranked professionals competed for a R1-million bonus pool in the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies. However, the season-long money list series has been scrapped in favour of bigger and better things.
“Instead, four of our sponsors have joined forces to offer bigger purses, and Investec took up the title sponsorship of the South African Women’s Open, raising the profile of our national championship to global status with the biggest purse ever offered on the women’s professional circuit in South Africa.”
The 2018 season kicks off with the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club from January 23-25. The Joburg Ladies Open, which moves to Modderfontein Golf Club, follows from January 31 to February 2.
After the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from February 6-8 and the Sunshine Ladies Tour Dimension Data Challenge in George from February 16-18, the Sunshine Ladies Tour will enjoy two weeks of back-to-back action in KwaZulu-Natal.
San Lameer Country Club will once again play host to the Sunshine Ladies Tour when the South African Women’s Masters tees off from February 22-24.
The Sunshine Ladies Tour travels a little further south the following week for the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, presented by Sun International, at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club from February 28 to March 2 .
The Sunshine Ladies Tour then heads back to Cape Town for the season finale at Atlantic Beach Golf Club from March 8-10.
Players will also compete for an additional R100 000 in the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit that will earn the outstanding player of the season an invitation to compete in the main event on the Ladies European Tour and Final Stage exemption into the 2019 Qualifying School.
2018 Tour schedule:
January 23-25
R400 000 Canon Ladies Tshwane Open
Pretoria Country Club
January 31 – February 2
R500 000 Joburg Ladies Open
Modderfontein Golf Club
February 6-8
R200 000 Cape Town Ladies Open
Royal Cape Golf Club
February 16-18
R500 000 Sunshine Ladies Tour Dimension Data Challenge
R100 000 Pro-Am prize fund
George Golf Club (February 16-17)
The Outeniqua Course at Fancourt (February 18)
February 22-24
R350 000 South African Women’s Masters
San Lameer Country Club
February 28 – March 2
R400 000 SuperSport Ladies Challenge, presented by Sun International
Wild Coast Sun Country Club
March 8-10
R2 000 000 Investec South African Women’s Open
Atlantic Beach Golf Club. – African News Agency (ANA)
