Staff WriterFrance’s Perrine Delacour lit up the Investec South African Open on Sunday at Erinvale Country & Golf Estate, claiming her second Ladies European Tour victory in a display that would make any golf fan’s heart skip a beat.
In a rollercoaster final round, Delacour’s steady nerve saw her surge ahead with two crucial birdies in her final four holes as she closed with a 70 to finish at an impressive 14 under par.
The atmosphere? Positively electric—like someone plugged Augusta into a lightning storm.
The lead bounced around like a caffeinated squirrel on a trampoline, but in the end, it was Perrine Delacour who held her nerve like a nun in a snowstorm, calmly birdieing her way to the top.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Casandra Alexander was over there painting her own masterpiece—firing a 66 that was smoother than a jazz sax solo, good enough to snag solo second at 12 under par. Absolute clinic.
Not to be left behind, Australia’s Kelsey Bennett and England’s Bronte Law shared a hard-fought third spot, both finishing at 11 under.
Reflecting on a challenging start to a windy final round where two bogeys in her opening six holes had rattled her, Delacour admitted,
“I didn’t start the way I wanted to. I didn’t know how many players were coming up behind me. I was just trying to stay focused on my own game.
I made a great birdie on 15, which was playing very hard, and then another birdie on 16. Coming down 18, I knew I was leading but I didn’t know by how many shots, so on 18 I just wanted to hit the green and make par.”
That steely resolve not only pumped up her own confidence but also set the stage for an electrifying shift as she looks forward to splitting her time between the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour.
“It’s been great to win again after a rough start to my year. I’m really happy because I sometimes struggle mentally and this proved I can win on tour even when not leading after nine holes, or being tied after nine holes. I trusted myself and got it done, so I’m pretty happy about that,” she continued.
The Investec South African Open, serving as the grand finale for this year’s Sunshine Ladies Tour, was more than just another tournament—it was a festival of talent and tenacity, complete with several season awards up for grabs.
South Africa’s Casandra Alexander capped off a stellar season, having never finished outside the top five in seven events, including one win and three runner-up finishes, and claimed the overall Investec Order of Merit.
“I feel like I really earned it this year. My team and I have worked so hard to get me in the right place to be able to play any golf course in any condition at any time.
The confidence I can now take onto the Ladies European Tour is second to none.
The game is in a good place, the confidence is in a good place, so who knows what the future holds,” Alexander remarked, adding that she earned a R200,000 bonus along with the use of a Renault car for a year.
The drama wasn’t confined solely to the leaders. Investec-sponsored golfer Kaiyuree Moodley clinched the R&A Rookie of the Year Award after an eye-catching debut season on the Sunshine Tour featuring three top-10 finishes and a remarkable sixth place on the Investec Order of Merit.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Gia Raad emerged as the top amateur by walking away with the Jackie Mercer trophy, having been the only amateur to make the cut and finishing at level par with a 75.
As fans continue to buzz about every twist and turn, the Investec South African Open has once again proved that golf is as unpredictable as it is thrilling.
This win not only underscores Perrine Delacour’s exceptional skill under pressure but also signals an exciting new chapter for the Ladies European Tour and its rising stars.
