Much to bank on in second season of the Pro-Am series

The Standard Bank Pro-Am Series is set to get underway at Glendower Golf Club on 17 May for its second season. Along with an increase in prize money, the series will venture into other provinces for the first time since its inception, allowing for greater reach and awareness of the sport.

“A big thank you goes to Standard Bank for their support of women’s golf,” founder of the Standard Bank Pro-Am series and golf development programme Jenny Havenga said. “They have contributed over R6 million for the prize money and overall development of the series, and this has enabled us to strengthen the series year after year.

“We will play tournaments from May to December starting at Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg on May 17 and our finale, the Pro-Am Invitational, will be played at Randpark later in the year.

The inaugural series was played at venues across Gauteng and this year we are venturing out to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, North West and the Western Cape. Our aim is to grow this series so that it can be accessible to women across the country and hopefully as we grow, take it to parts of the continent as well.”

Following the season-opener at Glendower, the series moves to the beautiful Atlantic Beach Links in the Western Cape before returning to Gauteng at Serengeti for the third event.

Next up will be Sun City’s Lost City Golf Club in the North West before St Francis Links also makes its debut on this eight-month series.

The fifth tournament will be played at Houghton in Johannesburg and then Mount Edgecombe Golf Club in KwaZulu-Natal will be the next venue.

The grand finale, the Standard Bank Pro-Am Invitational will return to Randpark Golf Club for the second straight season to wrap up the year.

“At Standard Bank, we believe that growth in women’s golf has evolved tremendously and already showcases some of the highest talent on offer in South Africa. This is a sport where commitment, perseverance and the right opportunities matter more than who is stronger or faster.

"We know that it should be about the quality of the golf. That is why we are backing South African women’s golf and giving them more platforms to succeed because we believe that: ‘Great golf, is great golf’ regardless of who is playing,” commented Schalk Kotze, Head of Affluent Clients at Standard Bank.

All the events – except for the Sun City and the Pro-Am Invitational tournaments – will carry prize money of R600 000 while the winner of the Order of Merit will walk away with a cool R500 000. The Pro-Am Invitational has a purse of R750 000 to sweeten things up for the professionals.

“As a collective our message is clear; that we view great golf as great golf, no matter who is playing; that women golfers are no longer the underdogs and that our support of women golf in the country is steadfast,” Havenga added.

“Last season we crowned amazing champions from international stars such as Nobuhle Dlamini and Lejan Lewthwaite to up-and-coming sensations like Zethu Myeki, Tara Griebenow, and four-time winner Ivanna Samu. Moreover, players who have worked really hard on their careers such as Yolanda Duma also got their breakthrough wins on this series just to show the diversity of talent we have in this country.”

Initiated by Lifestyle Golf, of which Havenga is a founder and director, and in collaboration with the Women’s Professional Golf Association (WPGA), the series, which is now in its second year, is aimed at growing women’s golf on all levels and creating opportunities for them to play professionally throughout the year, which will enable them to hone their skills further.