By V Krishnaswamy
Tvesa Malik, who has time and again come close to getting her first international win, finally got the monkey off the back with a three-shot win in the SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International, the opening event of the Sunshine Ladies Golf Tour in South Africa.
Tvesa, 29, who has been a pro for seven years, and won multiple times in India on her home tour, the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, finally broke through with a final round of one-under 71 after 71-65 in the first two rounds. Tvesa, lying way down in T10 after the first round, rose to tied first after her bogey-free 65 on the second day. She closed with a 71 that included two birdies and one bogey in a steady round.
Gabrielle Venter of South Africa (71) and Paula Reto, also from South Africa, with 75, were second and third.
South African women’s star Lee-Anne Pace (71) and Amy Taylor of England with 68 were tied fourth.
Tvesa becomes the second Indian after Diksha Dagar to win in South Africa. Diksha won the Women’s South African Open in 2019, and Tvesa is the third Indian woman golfer to win in Africa, after Diksha and Aditi Ashok, who won the Magical Kenya Ladies Open in 2023.
Tvesa was tied with Paula Reto after the second round, but the Indian golfer moved ahead early as Reto had two doubles and two other bogeys against two birdies on the front nine for a four-over 40. In contrast, Tvesa had one birdie and one bogey. On the second nine, Tvesa had two birdies and a bogey, while Reto had two birdies and one bogey and signed for 75 and fell to third place. Gabrielle Venter with five birdies and four bogeys for 71 was sole second.
Tvesa, who got married to fellow Indian professional golfer Ajeetesh Sandhu, said, “I have worked hard and was focussed on getting back to the Tours that I have been on. Sunshine Ladies Tour is a place I have enjoyed and South Africa has some great golf courses. The last three days have been superb, particularly the second round, when I could do nothing wrong.”
She added, “I will hopefully carry on this form and this gives me greater room to plan my calendar and I will get into more events, some also on LET.”
Tvesa has also entered the second event, the Sunshine Ladies Invitational from March 6 to 8.
This was the opening event of the Sunshine Ladies Tour, which has seven events, including two events, which are Joburg Ladies and Women’s South African Open, in April. Tvesa by virtue of this win will be eligible for all events.
Tvesa, who lost her playing rights on the Ladies European Tour, decided to play the Sunshine Ladies Tour, and in limited events on LET to get back her card. The latest win opens all doors in South Africa, and she can find her way back into LET through them.
