Caroline Masson from Gladbeck, Germany, completed the first major tournament victory of her career in South Africa. The 23-year-old won the South African Women’s Open at Selborne Park Golf Club south of Durban on Sunday afternoon after a strong showing. With rounds of 69, 75 and on the final day 71 strokes, the player of the GOLF TEAM GERMANY secured the title and the winner’s purse of 39,000 euros at the tournament of the Ladies European Tour with a one-point lead. With a total of 134,514 Euros from eleven tournaments, Caroline Masson is now the new number 1 in the European money ranking.
“I have waited so long for this moment,” said an overjoyed Caroline Masson after her first victory on the Ladies European Tour. On the par-72 course on the east coast of South Africa, the German number 1 managed best to cope with the sometimes extremely strong wind. On the first day she took the lead with a brilliant 69er round – and didn’t give it up again until the end. “You have to be patient in these weather conditions. This is not really my strong point, but this time it worked out,” said Caroline Masson. With a 75 on the scorecard, she held on to the lead in the second round; with a bogey-free 71 final round and a total of 1 under par, she finally distanced the South African Lee-Anne Pace and Danielle Montgomery from England by one shot. Stephanie Kirchmayr, the second player of the GOLF TEAM GERMANY, finished 44th.
The storm over the Selborne Park Golf Club course on the final day initially caused a one-hour delay. When the gusts swept over the course a little less violently, the players were able to enter the course. The main concern on this day was not to make any big mistakes. “It was really very demanding. I was lucky a few times, but on the other hand I had a few more birdie chances,” Caroline Masson analysed after her triumph.
Already twice this year, the player from Gladbeck had been very close to her first tour success, but at the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open at the beginning of June as well as at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open a month ago, she had to be content with second place, just missing the victory in each case. “So this time I concentrated more on my game and worried less about the leaderboard”, said Caroline Masson. With success – and at the right time: “I have a lot of self-confidence at the moment. The fact that the first tournament win on the Ladies European Tour in the middle of the year has now been achieved is optimal timing,” said the German.
The 23-year-old is now coming to France in ten days’ time as Europe’s new No. 1 for the Evian Masters, by far the highest-endowed tournament on the Ladies European Tour. From 26 to 29 July, a total prize money of almost 2.5 million euros is at stake in Evian-Leas-Bains. There it will compete against the entire world elite.
