India’s Tvesa Malik claimed her first professional win on foreign soil as she kept the ball on the fairways and putted well to win the SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International by three strokes at the Lost City Golf Club on Friday.
Malik began the final round as co-leader with 2022 SuperSport Ladies Challenge champion Paula Reto, and the 28-year-old produced the sort of controlled golf required on the last day to clinch titles. Malik made just two bogeys, one on each nine, but collected three birdies to post a one-under-par 71 and finish on nine-under overall.
It was a round that none of the other contenders could better.
“I was very consistent off the tee which was vital because the fairways are tight and really firm. The greens are big so hitting from good positions on the fairways is fine and my putting is what I was most pleased with. I gave myself several opportunities and I hit so many good putts that just did not go in. But then 10-foot birdies on the 11th and 16th holes were really important,” Malik said.
“I just wanted to focus today and not get too wrapped up in every shot being do-or-die. I just tried to stay stable mentally and not stress too much about making birdies. I am thrilled and relieved to have my first pro win outside India.”
First-round leader Lauren Taylor drew level with Malik as she collected two birdies on a faultless front nine, but the Englishwoman saw her chances go up in smoke when she came home in 41 shots with three bogeys and a double drop on the par-four 16th.
Reto found herself on a sinking ship on the front nine, as she double-bogeyed both the second and sixth holes to go out in 40. The South African fought back on the back nine to come home in 35 shots and finished third on five-under-par.
Young Gabrielle Venter once again showed that her game has the equipment to be a title contender on the Sunshine Ladies Tour as she claimed second place on six-under-par with a 71, moving up to third on the official order of merit.
Lee-Anne Pace is second in the overall standings after charging up the leaderboard in the last two rounds of the SuperSport Ladies Challenge, finishing in a tie for fourth at Lost City on four-under after a 71 on Friday. England’s Amy Taylor vaulted up to four-under as well after posting a 68, the joint best round of the day. Germany’s Helen Kreuzer (71) was the other golfer tied for fourth.
Dimension Data Ladies Pro-Am winner Kylie Henry is still top of the order of merit, despite finishing tied for 32nd, on six-over-par, at Lost City.
SCORES:
207 - Tvesa Malik 71 65 71
210 - Gabrielle Venter 71 68 71
211 - Paula Reto 70 66 75
212 - Amy Taylor 73 71 68, Lee-Anne Pace 76 65 71, Helen Kreuzer 71 70 71
213 - Ana Dawson 69 72 72, Anna Magnusson 72 68 73, Lauren Taylor 68 70 75
214 - Ariane Klotz 76 65 73
215 - Elena Hualde 72 74 69, Ellen Hutchinson-Kay 70 73 72, Alexandra Swayne 73 68 74, Pasqualle Coffa 69 71 75
216 - Harang Lee 76 72 68
218 - Nina Pegova 72 73 73, Romy Meekers 70 74 74, Kaleigh Telfer 69 75 74, Carolin Kauffmann 72 70 76