Pace wins South African Women's Open 2014

What a thrilling way for Lee-Anne Pace to end an event as the home favourite on her own soil.

Pace took the title of 2014 Cell C South African Women’s Open after a stunning round where she fought hard to get the club-house lead. Pace’s chance of remaining in the battle depended on the score that Holly Clyburn came home with.

Clyburn, the popular player from England started the day one stroke back from overnight leader Leigh Whittaker(Ger). She started her final round campaign with a birdie on the first, boosting her confidence and watched as the leaderboard shuffled up and down but her name was on top. She then went on to post eleven par’s in a row.

As Clyburn, approached the Par 5, 13th, she may have been aware that a couple of holes ago, Lee-Anne Pace charged up the 13th and drilled a perfect shot onto the green which drew large applause and again as her eagle putt plonked into the cup.

Clyburn sank her putt on the 13th for birdie and had a 2 shot lead over the field. I wonder if she saw the South African, Pace, eyeing off her score.

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Meanwhile, Lee-Anne Pace soon realised that after her breakthrough eagle she would have to make a dent on the holes coming in if she was to be any chance of climbing to the top. She got a step closer again on the 16th after a tremendous birdie dropped in. Knowing she was almost out of holes the gutsy Pace, who is a strong Sunday finisher parred the 17th and equalled the lead when she sank her putt for birdie on the last hole. Pace said “I saw that Holly was still five under so I knew I had to birdie the last hole to have a chance.” LET Website

I can only imagine the nervous energy that runs through a player’s body when they have finished their last round and placed themselves in contention to win as club-house leader.

Clyburn had 2 holes to finish and though courageous and strong, the luck didn’t go her way as she could only muster pars coming in.

“I saw that Holly was still five under so I knew I had to birdie the last hole to have a chance – LET Website”

PLAY-OFF

After formalities, the players headed to the tee at 18 both possibly ‘shell shocked’ that it was now ‘sudden death’. Make a mistake and your out.

Both players missed birdie chances on the first play-off hole and returned back to the 18th tee. Clyburn with only one professional win under her belt hit her shot which despairingly hit the water. She gutted it out and finished with a heavy 6.

Credit LET, Justin Klusener

Pace wedged her ball onto the green and left herself a short birdie putt to take the championship title. With both arms raised in exhilaration Pace wins South African Women’s Open 2014, another victory, taking her wins on the Ladies European Tour to 9 and her play-off record remains at 100%, 3 for 3.

Finishing the event strongly was Gwladys Nocera (Fra) in third place, Florentyna Parker (Eng) Ann-Kathrin Lindner (Ger), Valentine Derrey (Fra) and Georgina Simpson (Eng) finished fourth.

Leigh Whittaker (Ger) who lead at the start of the round, finished tied for eighth place with Fabienne In-Albon and surprisingly Charley Hull finished equal 10^th, after a heart wrenching triple bogey on 11 sealed her fate for a chance at the title.

It is a delight to hear the news that the tournament has been extended for another seven years. A testament from the LET, Women’s Professional Golf Association of South Africa (WPGA), and World Sport Promotions to enable young female golfers to grow and develop in the game.

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For more discussion follow Elizabeth Bethel @bethbethel

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