South Africa’s Stacy Bregman makes her debut on the Ladies African Tour in her rookie season as a professional when she tees it up in this week’s Pam Golding Ladies International at Dainfern Country Club.
Much has been expected from Bregman since she turned professional after winning the World Amateur Team Championship with Ashleigh Simon and Kelli Shean. She qualified for her Ladies European Tour card, but missed the cut in her first event – the Women’s Australian Open.
But a return to local fairways could well be the inspiration she needs to get her professional career off to a winning start.
Fellow rookies Lee-Anne Pace and Lumien Lausberg will be seeking something similar as they also debut on the Ladies African Tour as professionals in this 54-hole event, which tees off on Wednesday.
They form part of a quality field that includes six international players who took part in the recent Women’s World Cup of Golf, as well as South African stalwarts such as Laurette Maritz and amateur Ashleigh Simon.
Simon heads to Dainfern in her usual imperious form after being crowned the leading amateur in the Women’s Australian Open, where she finished 20th.
Shean joins Simon as one of 22 amateurs in the field of 106, which includes all the defending champions from last year’s Tour.
Amongst the international contingent, which includes players from 21 countries, Switzerland’s Nora Angehrn is back to defend her Pam Golding Ladies International title.
Denmark’s Karen Margrethe Juul, Norway’s Lill Saether and Marianne Skarpnord, and Spain’s Tania Elosegui join Maritz and Simon as those returning to local fairways following their participation in the Women’s World Cup of Golf.
Juul enjoyed a solid season on the Ladies European Tour last year, breaking through with her maiden victory in the Nykredit Masters.
Rebecca Hudson is also in the field, returning as the reigning Acer Women’s South African Open champion and full of confidence following a standout season on the Ladies European Tour.
Hudson claimed eight top tens and three top 20 finishes in Europe last season, including a maiden victory in the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open.
The big-hitting Carmen Alonso should be one of the favourites on Tour. Alonso was the longest driver on the Ladies European Tour in 2006 with an average driving distance of 300.04 yards.
Date / Event / Club / City
Wed – Fri 21 – 23 February; Pam Golding Ladies International; Dainfern Country Club; Johannesburg
Wed – Fri 28 – 02 Feb/March; WPGA Masters; Waterkloof Golf Club; Pretoria
Thurs – Sat 08 – 10 March; Acer Women’s SA Open; Durban Country Club; Durban
Sun 11 March; Acer Women’s SA Open ProAm; Durban Country Club; Durban
Tues 13 March; Telkom Women’s Classic ProAm; Benoni Lakes Club; Johannesburg
Wed – Fri 14 – 16 March; Telkom Women’s Classic; Benoni Lakes Club; Johannesburg
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