She won the Sunshine Ladies Tour’s 2020 Investec Order of Merit, and now Monique Smit is looking to take that good form into the 2021 season which gets underway with the Cape Town Ladies Open at Royal Cape Golf Club on Wednesday.
“It was definitely a season of highs and lows,” said Smit, who won the order of merit thanks to a victory in the Joburg Ladies Open and a runner-up finish in the Investec South African Women’s Open.
She finished no worse than 11th in the COVID-18 hit 2020 season, and that was the first event of the season. Besides the win and the runner-up spot, there were five top-10s for the George golfer.
“It was ironic that I hit the best form of my career in the worst year ever,” said Smit. “I had such a fantastic season at home, and qualified for my first AIG Women’s Open. The rest of the year is hardly worth mentioning, but I did qualify as a barista during the lockdown, so there is that silver lining.
“I am really excited to kick off this season with a bang. Besides the prize money, we have so many incentives to shoot for this year. There are chances to secure starts in the Jabra Ladies Classic, which is the qualifying event for The Amundi Evian Championship, and the Big Green Egg Open in the Netherlands, not to mention all the opportunities this year’s Investec South African Women’s Open offers the South Africans.
“Besides earning tour winner’s status for the Ladies European Tour, it’s the qualifying tournament for the US Women’s Open. Imagine having the chance to qualify for the biggest major right here on home soil.
“Plus, if the winner is a South African, she’ll win the Investec Homegrown Award, which is worth another R100,000. For a seasoned pro or an up-and-coming rookie that’s a huge bonus to use towards travel costs. And, of course, R100,000 for winning the Investec Order of Merit. It’s all to play for this year.”
Action gets underway at Royal Cape at 7.30am.
By Lali Stander
