Cape Dreams News from in and around the Cape
From Caroline Malan, The PR Machine
The condensed 2021 Sunshine Ladies Tour is set to be the best yet as Investec introduces the Investec Homegrown Award. The award will see a South African winner of the Investec South African Women’s Open take home an additional R100 000.
In 2014 we saw Investec launch the Chase to the Investec Cup, which was inclusive of the 100,000 rand bonus prize for the Investec Order of Merit winner. Several years later, Investec further entrenched its golfing presence by claiming naming rights to the Investec South African Women’s Open, with a prize pool of 200,000 euro.
Investec’s Head of Sponsorship, Peta Dixon says that Investec is committed to its values of equality, inclusion and diversity and is focused on enabling more women to thrive.
“With this in mind, we’ve added a prize incentive of R100,000. Simply put: If a South African professional wins the Investec South African Women’s Open, she will win the 100,000 rand Investec Homegrown Award as well as her portion of the Investec South African Women’s Open prize pool.
“She can of course potentially take the Investec Order of Merit too. Investec looks to continue promoting and backing local South African talent which is in line with our recently launched campaign of ‘Women on the rise,’ focusing on the strength of female athletes and gender equality. While there’s still a long way to go before gender pay parity in golf is a reality, we are proud of the contribution that we’re making to that cause.”
Investec sponsored golfers Stacy Bregman, Nicole Garcia and Lejan Lewthwaite will all be competing on the 6-tournament tour, with their eyes on the prize said Bregman.
“It’s another wonderful incentive by Investec and I speak on behalf of all the pro’s when I say that we’re extremely grateful.
“I’ve worked hard throughout the off-season and lockdown because there is a lot of money at stake when factoring in the Investec Order of Merit, tournament wins and now the Investec Homegrown Award on offer at the final tournament.
“All these contribute towards a hugely competitive circuit: growing our game and golfers, and we just cannot wait to tee-off.”
The eighth season of the local women’s professional circuit launches with the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 7-9 April; and concludes with the ISAWO at Westlake Golf Club from 13 – 16 May 2021.
Sunshine Ladies Tour General Manager Pauli van Meersbergen: “As a partner and sponsor, Investec has made an immeasurable contribution to the Sunshine Ladies Tour since the circuit launched in 2014 and has consistently upped the ante with additional incentives to promote the development of women’s professional golf in our country.
“They have done it again with this wonderful Investec Homegrown Award. Winning the Investec South African Women’s Open comes with a two-year exemption on the Ladies European Tour, where the 100,000 rand cash injection will go a long way in covering costs for the champion.
“We applaud Investec for their innovation and dedication to growing women’s golf and for always finding ways to allow our South African golfers to take the next step and level up.”
