The winning mindset could not be stronger for Casandra Alexander as the South African touches down in Australia for the first of three events on her calendar.
The 26-year-old is the highest ranked player in the field at this week’s Australia Women’s Classic sitting 54th in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. It is a career-best position aided by a runner-up finish at the season-opening PIF Saudi Ladies International three weeks ago.
“I’m feeling good,” Alexander said, who finished one-shot behind Charley Hull in Riyadh. “We’ve been doing some renovations on the house so my husband is at home making sure that operation goes smoothly. But yeah, I’m happy to be in Australia. It’s my first time coming to play the LET events here. So I’m happy to be here. The last time I was here I was just 14-years-old playing in an amateur event.
“It was a good start to the year. I’ve just moved over to Titleist clubs which were a bit fresh for Saudi, but it was nice to put them to the test and use them under pressure. They performed super well and I’ve now had some time to get used to them some more at home. I’m super chuffed and super excited to get going in Australia.”
A one-time winner on the Ladies European Tour (LET), Alexander carded rounds of 67-67-68-68 at the season-opener in Saudi Arabia to record her fourth runner-up finish on the circuit.
One week before that, the big-hitting South African also lost in a six-hole playoff to Celina Sattelkau on her native Sunshine Ladies Tour. Alexander says the close calls have made her even hungrier to add more victories to her resume.
“Of course [I always want to win],” she said. “I’ve had two second places now this season. Last year I had quite a few too. I have an ongoing joke with my caddie, Charlie, that he’s the caddie of second places. It’s been a good start to the year but I need to get some victories under the belt.
“But I’m so happy with the progress. I came second in Saudi not playing the best golf, which is exactly where we need to be. You also need some luck to win golf tournaments. Hopefully we get that this year and I can get a couple of wins.
“I am on a personal mission to get as high as possible in rankings to give myself as best a chance possible of getting an LPGA card. That’s the end goal but the world rankings are not something I chase. My ranking has gone up year by year without chasing it, it just happens thanks to good golf. When you win golf tournaments you earn rankings and that’s where we’re at. I want to win golf tournaments.”
As for this week, Alexander tees up at the Australian Women’s Classic at Magenta Shores in the second of four co-sanctioned events with the WPGA Tour of Australasia. She is the only player inside the world’s top-100 in the field and has one objective during her three-event swing Down Under.
“It’s strictly business,” Alexander said. “I came here to play and try to win. We’ve got a good run of events coming up so I’m trying to stay focused and get the job done.”
Alexander gets her Aussie campaign underway at 08:14 local time on Thursday playing alongside home star Kelsey Bennet and Germany’s Laura Fuenfstueck.
Follow all the action from the Australian Women’s Classic on our socials – @LETgolf on Instagram and X and Ladies European Tour on Facebook and YouTube.
