Johannesburg - The 2005 Nedbank Women's Golf Tour tees off at the end of February and will once again feature some of the top female professionals in the world competing on local fairways.
The growth of the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour over the past few years is reflected in the fact that golfers from at least 15 countries will be competing this year for total prize money of R1.2-million over the four tournaments.
Swedes Asa Gottmo and Cecilia Ekelundh, ranked five and six respectively in Europe last year, and reigning Acer Women's South African Open champion Ashleigh Simon are among the leading players who have confirmed their participation on the Tour, which will follow directly after the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf in South Africa.
Gottmo recorded four top 10 finishes on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour last year, while Ekelundh brings with her the title of Ladies Open of Portugal champion.
Another familiar face on local fairways will be that of Johanna Waldh (nee Westerberg), who finished second on the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour Order of Merit last year. Minea Blomqvist, the winner of the Order of Merit, has yet to confirm her participation.
This year, the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour will be travelling around the country for the first time with an event in Cape Town, two in Johannesburg and one in Pretoria.
The Tour will also make history in that three of the venues - Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, Zwartkop Country Club and Killarney Golf Club - have agreed to close their courses for the duration of the tournaments.
"We decided to spread the Tour around the country to accommodate more of the European golfers and because some of these courses agreed to close their courses during our tournaments, so we support that," said Tania Fourie, Commissioner of the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour.
"I would like to thank all of our sponsors and our title sponsor, Nedbank, for supporting us for all these years." Greg Garden, Head of Marketing Nedbank, said the 2005 Nedbank Women's Golf Tour should again set a new benchmark for success in women's sport in South Africa.
"As title sponsor of the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour we have been delighted to be a part of the phenomenal growth of women's golf in this country. As an organisation we feel strongly about the empowerment of South African women, and the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour continues to provide our golfers with the best opportunity to maximise their talents."
This year, the Nozala Trust - an organisation aimed at helping rural women to become self sufficient - will be the official charity of the Nedbank Women's Golf Tour.
2005 Nedbank women's golf tour schedule R300 000 Pam Golding Ladies International (Mowbray Golf Club) - February 22-24 R300 000 Acer Women's SA Open (Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club) - March 2-4 R300 000 Telkom Women's Classic (Zwartkop Country Club) - March 9-11 R300 000 Nedbank Women's SA Masters (Killarney Golf Club) - March 16-18. - Sapa