South African breakthrough for Simon on Sunshine Ladies Tour

Ekurhuleni’s Ashleigh Simon ticked a pro win on home soil off her bucket list, when she claimed the second Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies, at Glendower Golf Club, on Friday.

Simon’s decision to withdraw from the Mission Hills World Ladies Championship and support the newly-launched Sunshine Ladies Tour was rewarded when she nailed a six-footer for a birdie, at the closing hole, to put the seal on a superb final round seven-under-par 65.

The 24-year-old finished on a winning nine-under-par 135, four shots clear of fellow Ladies European Tour campaigner Stacy Bregman, and five ahead of European number one, Lee-Anne Pace, who matched Bregman’s 68 to take sole third on four under 140.

In a prolific amateur career, Simon won five Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA) events between 2004 and 2007, including two South African Women’s Open titles, but her first professional win came two months after she joined the paid ranks at the Catalonia Ladies Masters, on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Simon lifted the Portugal Masters title on the LET in 2011 and, in December, claimed a LPGA Tour card for this season. None of these achievements could, however, measure up to the joy of winning in front of her peers and a very loud, and supportive home crowd.

“Nothing beats winning at home, and to come home to Glendower, where I played for eight years, makes this first win in South Africa so much more special,” said Simon.

She is an honorary life member at the home of the South African Open Championship.

“Thank you to the WPGA for giving us a local tour on which to compete again, and thanks for giving me the chance to win in front of my family, friends and fans,” added Simon.

“This is why we have come home, to support the tour and to help it grow.”

Simon went into the final round in a tie for the lead with Tandi von Ruben, but sounded a stern warning to the chasing pack with a four-birdie start.

She knocked in a 15-footer at the eightth, for a birdie, and erased a three-putt bogey on the ninth, by boxing a 10-footer for a birdie on the 10th.

“I learned that I was leading only when I reached the 15th tee and thought I was just one shot ahead of Stacy,” she said.

“I knew I needed a birdie to open up the gap, and I made a great up-and-down from the bunker to give myself a little space.”

The gap had actually increased to three shots after Bregman dropped a shot at the 15th.

Simon, believing she needed to make par after finding the right fairway bunker at the 16th, hit a superb trap shot from an awkward downhill lie, just short of the green, chipped to six feet and drained the putt for par.

At the par-three 17th, she pitched her tee shot 35 feet pin high right and the ensuing putt shaved the hole, leaving her with a tap in for par.

“I knew I had a three-shot lead when we got to 18, and I split the fairway with my tee shot; I wanted to finish with a birdie for myself and the spectators, and I hit the sweetest six-iron to six feet,” Simon said.

“I was nervous over that putt, though, but it felt so good when it hit the back of the hole.

“Some of the credit for this win has to go to Dave Buhai, who is just the best caddy and boyfriend in the world, but some credit has to go to the Nike RZN’s, as well.”

KwaZulu-Natal amateur Michaela Fletcher claimed her second Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies “title”, as the leading amateur, with rounds of 77 and 69, to finish 11 shots behind Simon.

Her nearest challenger was Mae Cornforth, who finished on 151, with rounds of 74 and 77.

“I’ve never played a tournament at Copperleaf, but this win has me hungry for more, so I’m really glad about my decision to come home and support the Sunshine Ladies Tour,” said Simon.