Great incentive for women golfers
“We applaud Investec for their innovation and dedication to growing women’s golf and for always finding ways to give our South African golfers an opportunity to take the next step and level up.”
2014 saw Investec launch the Chase to the Investec Cup, which was inclusive of the R100 000 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 (R4 069 879).
Investec’s head of sponsorship, Peta Dixon, said 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 an additional prize incentive of R100 000. Simply put if a South African professional wins the Investec South African Women’s Open, she will win the R100 000 Investec Homegrown Award, as well as her portion of the Investec South African Women’s Open prize pool,” said Dixon.
“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 (latter two from Boksburg) will all be competing in the six-tournament tour, with their eyes on the prize.
Bregman said, “It’s another wonderful incentive by Investec, and I speak on behalf of all the pro’s when I say 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 April 7 to 9 and concludes with the ISAWO at Westlake Golf Club from May 13 to 16.
Sunshine Ladies Tour GM Pauli van Meersbergen said, “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 R100 000 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 give our South African golfers an opportunity to take the next step and level up.”
