The 24-year-old, from Ebotse Golf Estate, celebrated a maiden win in the R100 000 Chase to the Investec Cup for Women, when she followed an opening five-under-par 67 with a steady 71, to triumph on a six-under-par 138.
Garcia claimed a four-stroke victory over South Africa’s top ranked amateur, 16-year-old Ivanna Samu, from Ruimsig, who impressed with rounds of 70 and 72.
Defending champion Ashleigh Simon combated jet-lag, but rallied with a pair of birdies over the final three holes, for a 74 and a share of third on even-par 144, alongside top ranked amateur Kaleigh Telfer, who closed with a 73.
Garcia was absolutely thrilled to get the monkey off her back.
“I think Friday the 13th will forever be a good day,” Garcia said.
“I never expected to be leading or to win, but I tell you, now I understand why people like winning so much.
“I don’t know how long it will take before I can wipe the smile off my face.”
Before the Sun International Ladies Challenge, Garcia last competed in Morocco, in December, where she won the first stage of the Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School and finished fifth in the final stage.
“I had a good final round in the Sun International Ladies Challenge, to tie for third, but I still felt a little rusty, so my expectations were pretty low coming into this week,” she said.
“I hoped to get the rust off in the first couple of events, to put myself in contention at the Investec Cup for Ladies, in March, but this result puts me in the running nice and early.”
Garcia protected her lead through the turn, but the going got tougher on the homebound loop.
“The course was playing a lot tougher, especially on the back nine,” she said.
“I kept the lead through 12 holes, but let it slip with a three-putt bogey at the 13th.
“Ivanna birdied the par five to join me at three under and the pressure was on.”
Garcia parred the 14th, and finished birdie-birdie-par-birdie with some brilliant shot-making to finish well clear of the teenager.
The Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies culminates from March 20 to March 22, in the end-of-season Investec Cup for Ladies, which boasts a R100 000 prize fund and a R600 000 bonus pool.
Garcia earned 250 points for her victory and vaulted into second place in the rankings.
She lags just 13.5 points behind Lee-Anne Pace, who leads the rankings with 400 points after her triumph in the season-opening Cell C SA Women’s Open, last year.
Garcia said the Sunshine Ladies Tour has given professional women’s golf in South Africa a tremendous boost.
“There is no better way to prepare for Europe than with our Sunshine Ladies Tour,” she said.
“For me, it’s a good indication of where my game is and the younger pros and amateurs have this great opportunity to gain experience and to make an informed decision about their future.
“I believe I could have kept my LET card if there was a tour like this around when I was an amateur.”
