Investec South African Women’s Open introduces Homegrown Award for top SA golfer
SANDTON – Investec introduces the Investec Homegrown Award. The award will see a South African winner of the Investec South African Women’s Open take home an additional R100 000.
The condensed 2021 Sunshine Ladies Tour has something new and exciting on the agenda. With deep roots in the sport, Investment bank, Investec has just introduced the Investec Homegrown Award for one South African winner.
Peta Dixon, head of sponsorship at Investec said that the brand stays 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.”
She added that the brand always looks to back local talent and hone their skills. Recently launching their latest campaign – Women on the Rise – it focuses on the strength of female athletes and gender equality.
A strong woman on the rise and Morningside resident, Stacy Bregman, said that her golfing journey started while she was on holiday.
“I was very sporty growing up and a friend of mine on holiday introduced me to the game. My dad started taking me to junior clinics every Sunday morning after that. One Sunday afternoon my dad took me to play 9-holes and two gentlemen were playing really slow in front of us. The one gentleman asked my dad who hit the ball on the green to which he replied, ‘My daughter did’!”
With a natural swing, the man on the course was ex-Springbok golfer, Neville Sundelson who then took her under his wing. Some years later, Bregman is one of Investec’s top-sponsored golfers with a number of accolades under her belt.
“One of my biggest achievements was winning the World Amateur Women’s Team Championship in 2006. I also won the Investec Order of Merit in 2019 and finished 9th on the Ladies European Order of Merit in the same year. So it has all been so exhilarating.”
Thrilled about the new season, Bregman mentioned that she loves being part of the team. With a history spanning over six years, Bregman said that she is basically part of the furniture.
“It’s super exciting this season with the Investec South African Open. The HomeGrown award that they just introduced is a great incentive for any South African who wins the Investec Order of Merit. It’s an extra bonus really.”
Her 2021 plans start off in April in Mzansi with the start of the new season, she then moves onto the Ladies European Tour for the rest of the year.
“I hope to play in most of the majors and Ladies Professional Golf Association Q School (LPGA) in the States and get my card for 2022.”
With a busy schedule, heart and passion, Bregman is paving the way for other female players.
