South African Women’s Open 2014

The Hibiscus Coast, is where 126 of the finest golfers on the Ladies European Tour and the Women’s Professional Golf Association of South Africa will compete this week for the title of Cell C South African Women’s Open 2014.

San Lameer Country Club will play host to the 72 hole contest. Last year saw the event finish after only 18 holes of play with the weather conditions calling a cease to the event. With rain and wind expected this week, the forecast looks to fine up for us to see a solid finish on Sunday.

Defending champion Marianne Skarpnord, from Norway shot an opening round of 69 to see her win in 2013. The experienced player comes off a best finish this season at the Ladies Italian Open in June with a tie for 8th place. She will be up against some fierce competition as she strives to defend her title.

Standing in Skarpnord’s way are a string of patriotic players from South Africa who would love nothing more than to be awarded the title of Cell C South African Women’s Open 2014 winner on their own turf.

Credit: Tristan Jones

After 15 events on the LPGA tour and 9 so far on the LET, this year, Lee-Anne Pace has worked exceptionally hard to contest every week. Pace, a previous ISPS Handa Order Of Merit winner and with 8 Ladies European Tour Titles to her name will call on her driving accuracy again and will be her consistent best in her approach to the game. July saw Pace with her best finishes this year with T3 ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters, T29 at the Ricoh Women’s British Open, T4 at the Marathon Classic and combined with 2nd place at the Sperbank Golf Masters sees her a formidable opponent when her 4 days come together.

Pace will make amends for last week which saw her finish lower than her usual best at the Sime Darby LPGA in Malaysia. The globe-trotting Pace will not disappoint her home crowd. She will be able to relax into her fluid swing feeling less pressure at home as other strong South African’s have stepped up to the challenge this year. Connie Chen, Paula Reto, Stacy Lee Bregman to name a few.