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,” Alexander said. “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.”
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 185m 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.”
The Johannesburger backed up her eagle with birdies at the 12th and 15th 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.
Photo: Troy Winfield/Sunshine Tour
