Women’s Open returns to San Lameer

Cape Town - The 2015 South African Women’s Open is heading to the KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast for a fourth successive year thanks to the unwavering support of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality.

According to the supersport.com website, the 54-hole tournament, sanctioned by the WPGA of South Africa, will carry a purse of R250 000 and will be played at San Lameer Country Club from 29 November to 1 December.

It will also be the first counting event on the 2016 Sunshine Ladies Tour and Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies.

“Over the last three years, the Hibiscus Coast has become the home of the SA Women’s Open and thanks to the enduring commitment from the Hibiscus Coast Municipality, we are proud to return to San Lameer for a second consecutive year,” said tournament promoter Lesley Copeman

The 2014 SA Women’s Open, which was co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour, was highly successful and achieved a media value of $5.6-million.

The event won’t be co-sanctioned this year due to budget constraints.

“Unfortunately the main sponsor took a decision to impose a sponsorship budget freeze in 2015 and the SA Women’s Open was a casualty of this process,” Copeman said. “The current economic climate is very unfavourable, however, and rather than losing the event altogether, Hibiscus Coast Municipality agreed to host this year’s SA Women’s Open as a national event.”

WPGA of South Africa chairperson Margie Whitehouse welcomed the announcement.

“The loss of the main sponsorship after last year’s very successful championship was devastating, but once again Hibiscus Coast Municipality has stepped into the fold,” Whitehouse said.

Ugu South Coast Tourism’s CEO Mr Justin Mackrory said: “We have 11 golf courses on the greater South Coast, some of which, such as San Lameer, fall within the top rankings in South Africa. We are extremely privileged that organisers and Hibiscus Coast Municipality were able to secure this event in our piece of paradise. We wish all the players and visitors an excellent experience during their stay”.