Casandra conquers Serengeti to claim Absa Ladies Invitational title

Playing what she described as “flawless golf”, Casandra Alexander fired a superb six-under-par 66 on Saturday to finish on 12-under-par overall and win the R1.2 million Absa Ladies Invitational by four strokes at Serengeti Estates on Saturday.

The 24-year-old had begun the final day tied for the lead with fellow South African Kiera Floyd, but Alexander went out in 34 before a brilliant back nine saw her collect an eagle and two birdies to romp to victory.

While Floyd struggled to a 77 on Saturday and finished 11 strokes behind, Alexander’s closest challenger was Spaniard Harang Lee, who also shot a 66 to finish on eight-under-par.

“It was definitely very close to flawless golf. I played unbelievably well and I am really happy,” Alexander said after her fifth Sunshine Ladies Tour title. “I had one or two drops early on which was maybe a bit of nerves, but I must have had 10 15-foot putts and I just couldn’t miss the first few.

“So I just tried to give myself birdie opportunities and I did manage to sink a few more. I played smart, but still aggressively and had a hot putter. Everything was solid, I hot my irons really well.”

Next week Alexander will defend her Jabra Ladies Classic title at Glendower, and then follows six consecutive weeks of European Tour action, including two co-sanctioned events in South Africa.

“I’m going to take a lot of confidence into Glendower, I’m hitting the ball well and that is a ball-striker’s course. And then it’s the two co-sanctioned events. I have a lot of events coming up, eight weeks in a row, and hopefully I can hit the ball even better and make more putts. I will carry this win with me,” Alexander said.

Her eagle on the 483m par-five 11th came after a superb four-iron over the flag.

“I kept missing my drives slightly left, so I decided to hit a little cut off the tee and hit an unbelievable drive. I then hit a grip-down four-iron 185 metres into the wind, another little cut, and I hit it flush straight at the pin. I told it to sit down and it pitched five metres behind, leaving me with a 15-foot putt for eagle.

“That kind of separated myself, allowed the nerves to settle. I just played smart from there, I didn’t need to do anything crazy. I held things together well, it was all really tidy and I had two lip-outs in the last three holes,” Alexander said.

The Johannesburger backed up her eagle with birdies at the 12th and 15tgh holes, and then her challengers were spent.

South Africa’s Cara Gorlei also shot a 66 to finish third on five-under-par, with compatriot Stacy Bregman fourth on four-under after a 69.

SCORES:

204 - Casandra Alexander 68 70 66

208 - Harang Lee (ESP) 73 69 66

211 - Cara Gorlei 73 72 66

212 - Stacy Bregman 70 73 69

214 - Tereza Melecka (CZE) 72 75 67, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 72 72 70

215 - Lee-Anne Pace 70 71 74, Kiera Floyd 67 71 77

216 - Tandi McCallum 76 70 70, Bonita Bredenhann (NAM) 73 70 73

217 - Romy Meekers (NED) 75 73 69, Ariane Klotz (FRA) 72 77 68, Lenanda van der Watt 73 73 71, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 74 71 72, Zethu Myeki 72 72 73

218 - Linette Holmslykke (DEN) 72 74 72, Tvesa Malik (IND) 72 72 74

219 - Hanna Tauber (GER) 75 70 74, Jane Turner (SCO) 74 77 68

220 - Danielle du Toit 74 73 73, Nina Pegova (WHT) 72 77 71, Nicole Garcia 72 77 71, Lora Assad 74 76 70, Isabella van Rooyen 72 72 76

221 - Florentyna Parker (ENG) 72 75 74, Tina Mazarino (NOR) 76 71 74, Verena Gimmy (GER) 72 73 76, Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (SWE) 72 72 77, Katharina Keilich (GER) 77 74 70

222 - Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 81 68 73, Ridhima Dilawari (IND) 74 73 75, Alexandra Swayne (ISV) 74 76 72

223 - Gina Da Silva (a) 77 72 74

224 - Judith van der Voort (NED) 77 72 75, Emie Peronnin (FRA) 74 76 74

225 - Kelsey Nicholas 72 79 74, Lauren Taylor (ENG) 78 73 74

227 - Michelle Forsland (NOR) 73 76 78, Kaylan Boshoff 77 73 77, Lindi Coetzee 75 76 76, Michelle Leigh 73 79 75

229 - Ivanna Samu 78 74 77

234 - Tara Griebenow 70 82 82

Missed the cut:-

153 - Suzette Venter 78 75, Kristin Sim (NOR) 75 78, Helen Kreuzer (GER) 76 77

154 - Lejan Lewthwaite 80 74

155 - Chante van Zyl 77 78, Larissa Du Preez 77 78, Gabrielle Venter 78 77

157 - Nadia van der Westhuizen 80 77

158 - Maiken Bing Paulsen (NOR) 79 79, Chante de Lange 82 76

159 - Jahaanvie Walia (ZAM) 82 77, Nicola Schoeman (a) 77 82

160 - Carey Dodds 80 80, Shawnelle de Lange 83 77

161 - Christina Gloor (SUI) 81 80

162 - Lea Ndjobouela (GAB) 78 84, Bronwyn Doeg 83 79

165 - Federica Biscuoli (ITA) 84 81, Brittney-Fay Berger 84 81

166 - Leontine Petit (FRA) 86 80, Crizelda Terblanche 82 84

168 - Yolanda Duma 89 79

170 - Shamiso Makwara (ZIM) 83 87

176 - Loice Chingono (ZIM) 89 87