Staff WriterA brilliant day in the winelands has set the stage for an unforgettable showdown at the South African Women’s Open.
France’s Perrine Delacour and Germany’s Aline Krauter lit up Erinvale Country & Golf Estate with matching rounds of seven-under-par 65, co-leading a competitive international field on Thursday.
The mood was relaxed yet electric at the South African Women’s Open as Delacour and Krauter carved out their early lead by finishing just a stroke ahead of Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann, France’s Lucie Malchirand, and the Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova.
South African amateur Gia Raad also turned heads with an impressive five-under-par 67.
Delacour, appreciating both her game and the breathtaking vistas, summed up her mood succinctly: “I’m pretty happy about that.”
She continued, reflecting on the inspiring surroundings, “It’s pretty. I keep looking at the view. If you had a bad shot, you just look at the view and that helps a lot.”
Her strategy played out beautifully, teeing off the 10th and unleashing a flurry of birdies and an eagle on the second nine.
It wasn’t just a round of impressive scores—it was a masterclass in staying cool under pressure at this Sunshine Ladies Tour and Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned event.
Delacour explained her mindset perfectly: “I’m trying to be a bit more relaxed about my game and accept that I’ll miss with some shots.
I’m trying to not be a perfectionist all the time. I just have to keep trusting the process and see where we go. There is a lot of golf left to play.”
Krauter, matching her counterpart stroke for stroke, enjoyed a day marked by a series of decisive birdies.
Also starting on the 10th, she swung into action early on the back nine, posting three birdies in four holes before capping off her round with two more in the final trio of holes.
Her enthusiasm was unmistakable as she remarked, “It was amazing. It wasn’t as windy as I’ve heard it can get here, so I took advantage of that. I love the course and I’m excited for the rest of the week.”
But the drama doesn’t stop at the top. Namibia’s Bonita Bredenhann celebrated a heart-stopping moment on the par-three 14th when a perfectly struck hole-in-one had her and her caddie popping champagne in jubilation.
“My caddie and I were discussing clubs and I went for a six iron. It was 158 metres and I hit it perfect.
When it pitched it rolled down to the hole and I shouted for it to go in, which it did. It was an amazing feeling.
It’s my second hole-in-one on the Sunshine Ladies Tour this season,” she recounted with palpable excitement.
As the day wrapped up with a tight leaderboard—15 golfers sitting within three shots of the lead—the South African Women’s Open promises more edge-of-your-seat moments.
With fresh mountain air in their lungs and picture-perfect scenery all around, this clash of golfing titans and rising stars feels less like a tournament and more like a sun-drenched masterclass in cool-headed brilliance.
If day one is anything to go by, golf lovers are in for a week of serious drama, fierce talent, and a leaderboard that’s tighter than your glutes after leg day.
