The first day of the Joburg Ladies Open golf tournament kicked off with visibly excited golfers eager to tee off.
The tournament, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Ladies Tour (SLT) and the Ladies European Tour (LET), is being played at the Modderfontein Golf Club over the next three days. It features a field of 132 golfers from across 27 countries.
The event was moved from the Soweto Country Club, where South Africa’s Casandra Alexander claimed a maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour victory last year. The defending champion loves the Modderfontein course and foresees a good week ahead.
“The Joburg Ladies Open win last year kick-started my career and I went to the Ladies European Tour on a positive note. To come back this year to a co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour is absolutely fantastic. It’s a huge opportunity for all South Africans to level up and fast-track to Europe,” said the 23-year-old.
Diksha Dagar (21) is also feeling good about the tournament.
“I’m looking forward to it, especially the greens here at Modderfontein. They are small, but soft and run fast, so if you hit good iron shots, you can put a great round together,” she said, confidently.
Dagar’s father taught her to play golf at seven years old, and dad was on her bag when the left-hander from New Delhi claimed her first professional title on South African soil in 2019. Her victory in the South African Women’s Open at 18 also made her the youngest Indian winner on the LET.
“My dad taught me how to swing and rotate my hips. If you keep it simple, you will have a good game,” she said.
The only amateur invited to compete in this year’s tournament is Isabella van Rooyen (19), who is the top-ranked amateur in South Africa. “I am really grateful to the City of Joburg for this amazing opportunity to build experience and to learn from professionals,” said Van Rooyen.
Three-time Sunshine Ladies Tour winner Nicole Garcia will be chasing that elusive first LET win. “This is not an easy course; you must plot your way around and play a strategic game. You can’t just hit the driver off every tee,” said Garcia.
“We are delighted to have the Joburg Ladies Open join the LET and to have two co-sanctioned events in South Africa. Hopefully, the City of Joburg will inspire more sponsors to follow suit and grow the SLT,” she added.
Former footballer Kristyna Napoleaova from the Czech Republic began her pro career in the 2020 Joburg Ladies Open and is elated to be back in South Africa for a third successive season.
“I love South Africa. I love the courses, the people, and especially the steakhouses and the wine. I am always happy to come back,” said Napoleaova, ranked fifth in the LET Race to Costa del Sol, following a runner-up finish in last week’s event. She described the tournament best in three special words: “community, consistency, and quality.”
Councillor Mpho Phalatse, the Executive Mayor, officially opened the Joburg Ladies Open tournament by hitting the first tee-shot on Thursday morning.
“I’m happy to see all the ladies doing their thing in a space that was previously male-dominated,” said Cllr Phalatse, who took up golf two years ago and enjoys the sport, which she considers relaxing.
“This is a big win for us ladies, and I’d like to say to all the women out there, let’s continue entering those spaces. There’s no reason why golf should be only for men. I see these women with their beautiful swings. So, let’s occupy these spaces.”
Mayor Phalatse is impressed with how far the tournament has come and wishes to see more investment in the sport and for women to be recognised more. She wished all competitors well for the tournament.
“Your greatest competition is yourself, and the important thing is to improve from your last game.”
The Joburg Ladies Open joined the Sunshine Ladies Tour in 2016; it is the seventh year that the City is hosting the tournament.
Written by Brümilda Swartbooi
24.3.2022