Women's World Cup of Golf
Brad Morgan
10 February 2005
After hosting a hugely successful President's Cup in 2003, the Fancourt Hotel and Country Club Estate near George in the Western Cape is gearing up to host the first Women's World Cup of Golf from 11 to 13 February. Twenty countries will do battle to become the first ever winners of the event.
The competition is endorsed by the Ladies European Tour, the LPGA Tour, and South Africa's WPGA and has drawn a host of top names from around the world. These include British Open champion Karen Stupples, as well as two former number ones, Karrie Webb and Laura Davies.
The event features a different format on each day. Day one is 18 holes of foursomes, followed by 18 holes of four-ball on day two. The third day is stroke-play. The purse is US$1-million.
Youngest player
One of the most intriguing entrants is South Africa's Ashleigh Simon, who is one of two amateurs in the field. At just 14 years of age, she is far and
away the youngest player in the competition.
Another youngster to watch out for will be Finland's Minea Blomqvist, who has enjoyed success in South Africa on the WPGA's Nedbank Women's Tour, winning the Pam Golding Ladies International and the Telkom Classic in 2004.
Blomqvist has twice carded 62 on the Ladies European Tour, including a record-setting 10-under par mark in a major championship - which stands as a majors record for both men and women.
'Diversity of talent'
Outlining the potential clash between the old guard and a host of promising youngsters, Ladies European Tour chairman Karen Lunn said: "Women's golf around the globe is currently undergoing a changing of the guard as many young players are adding tournament titles to their fledgling résumés, even as teenagers.
"The more established names in women's golf are still winning titles with aplomb, and what we will witness in this inaugural event is a tremendous marriage
of youth and experience, which will highlight the diversity of talent currently on show in our sport."
Australia, with six-time major winner Karrie Webb and Rachel Hetherington making up their twosome, are one of the favourites to win it all. Last season, Webb recorded 12 top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, and also claimed the biggest victory of the season, a nine-shot triumph in the John Q Hammons Hotel Classic.
England, though, will be tough to top. British Open winner Karen Stupples and Laura Davies, with 37 career victories to her name, look very strong.
Beware the USA
The USA, as always, bears watching. Meg Mallon won three times on the LPGA Tour in 2004, including the US Open, and boasts 18 career victories dating back to 1991. Her partner, Beth Daniel, is 48 years of age, and has 33 career victories, the first of which came in 1979!
Joining Ashleigh Simon in the South African team is Laurette Maritz. She was the leading
South African professional on the 2004 Nedbank Women's Tour. She is also the highest ranked South African campaigning on the Ladies European Tour, after finishing twenty-seventh on the 2004 Order of Merit.
Maritz has six career titles to her name, including the Praia D'el Rey European Cup in 1997.
'Striving for excellence'
"We are delighted to have Laurette and Ashleigh represent us in this prestigious event", said WPGA chairperson Wendy Applebaum.
"I think we have a wonderful blend of youth and experience", Applebaum said. "Laurette is one of our most experienced professionals, while Ashleigh is certainly one of the brightest young talents we have.
"The WPGA is striving for excellence, and we believe this combination is our strongest, and we have full faith in them representing us with pride and distinction at the World Cup."
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