Home comforts are key for Lee-Anne Pace this week as the South African legend goes in pursuit of title number six at the Investec South African Women’s Open.
Faring well in this tournament is an understatement for the 11-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner after Pace secured a hat-trick of victories on home soil between 2014-2017, before picking up two more titles in 2021 and 2022.
Now teeing up at Erinvale Golf Estate & Country for the 31st edition of the event, Pace, a Cape Town native, is feeling relaxed and ready to go as she looks to put on a show in front of friends and family.
“[I’m feeling] really good,” the 2010 Order of Merit winner said. “I feel quite relaxed, it’s a beautiful day and I think we’re going to have some fun in the Pro-Am today. I love the course, I love the area – I actually live in this area – so it really feels like home.
“I think [the course] is great, it can be very challenging and if the wind gets up it will be very tough. The greens are huge, so you can have a wedge into one hole and then the next day you can have a 5-iron. I think they can make it really tough and I think it’s a very good golf course.“
Pace secured title number five in this event in 2022 at Steenberg Golf Club when she defeated Argentina’s Maggie Simmermacher in a playoff. Just like two years ago, and with her other four wins, the South African will again be looking for home support to help spur her on to victory.
On her success in this tournament, Pace said: “I guess it’s local support. My family is coming out and my friends are coming out. I feel super relaxed when I’m in this area. I know the air pressure here! Not so good up in Joburg. [But] I feel very comfortable.
“I have family and friends [here this week]. You will probably hear them before you see them! But it’s really nice, I live very close to here so there should be a few people out shouting a lot.”
While Pace has also been pleased with the growth of this tournament as it enters its 31st edition.
“I have seen it grow massively,” she said. “When I first started playing this tournament, I don’t think it might have been even 40 people playing. It’s an internationally recognised tournament now and the talent that has come up in South Africa just by the Sunshine Tour and developing this Tour is fantastic, so I think it’s a really great tournament.“
As for 2024, Pace started the year on a high marrying fellow LET winner Anne-Lise Caudal in a beautiful ceremony on the beach in front of friends and family.
“It was a super nice day,” she said. “It was a perfect wedding! I know you can’t say that weddings are perfect, but we had a great time. It was a beautiful day and she looked stunning. I’m probably the most lucky person in the world.
On the course, the 43-year-old has only played in two events, finishing T11 at the season opening Magical Kenya Ladies Open before finishing T35 last week in Joburg.
Pace said: “I have been playing better and better recently. I took some time off a while back, but am now getting back into it. I hit some low shots on the range yesterday which was good. The wind will get up this weekend I think Friday or Saturday, so just preparing in case that happens and just enjoying myself.”
The South African starts her pursuit of title number six at the Investec SA Women’s Open at 07:35 local time playing alongside amateur Kyra van Kan and last week’s winner, Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram, TikTok and X, and Ladies European Tour on YouTube and Facebook – #RaiseOurGame | #InvestecSAWomensOpen.
