Durban - SA's number one golfer, Lee-Anne Pace, will be looking to set a record by making her third successive conquest of the SA Women’s Open.
The three-day event tees off at San Lameer Country Club on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast on Thursday.
Pace, who campaigns on the Ladies PGA tour, bagged the Open’s last two titles – in 2014 and 2015.
She looks forward to winning again and, in so doing, becoming the first player to clinch the crown three consecutive times.
“I am fit and ready to prove my dominance by winning the trophy for the third time. I have trained hard for this event, which attracts some of the best players in the country as well as internationally,” said Pace.
The tournament, which is the flagship event of women’s golf in the country, was not played last year because of scheduling problems.
It used to be staged in November and will take place in January for the first time.
Competition is likely to be intense, with an array of top players expected to showcase their skills.
Among South Africa’s key contestants are Ashleigh Buhai, Stacy Lee Bregman and Nicole Garcia.
International players include Alexandra Lennartsson from Sweden, England’s Rebecca Hudson and Laura Welch from the US.
The 54-hole tournament carries a prize of R250 000.
The final round will be played on Saturday.