Teamwork and precision proved a winning combination for Lynda Smit, Tania de Vincenzo, Sam Cawood and Sandor Dowling as they clinched the Ebotse Ladies Open at Ebotse Links on October 20

Competing in the fourball alliance mystery-scoring format, the quartet topped the field to claim the title at the prestigious local event.

Karien Neuhoff, Traci Cowell, Tania Labuschagne and Lauron Vos finished runners-up. At the same time, Terry Bailey, Alfreda Webster, Lindsay Rees and Lorraine Kruger secured third to complete the podium.

The day also featured four nearest-the-pins prizes, with Colleen Pike taking the honours on the second hole and Phindi Gila winning the eighth. Peachy Swarts clinched the 11th, while Chantelle Davis took the honours on the 15th.

Ebotse Ladies captain Juanita O’Donoghue congratulated the winners, adding that the competition brings women together through their love of golf.

“It is an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful day of golf, friendship and fun, while celebrating the fantastic spirit of our ladies’ golfing community. We want everyone who joins us to leave with beautiful memories and a smile,” she said.

About 90 ladies swung their drives in sparkling, disco-inspired outfits, adding excitement and personality to the event.

“We wanted to do something fun, colourful and a little different. Golf is competitive, but it is also about friendship and enjoying yourself. The disco theme gave us a chance to add extra excitement and personality to the day. We wanted our ladies to have fun both on and off the course,” said O’Donoghue.

Organising the tournament was a privilege for O’Donoghue and seeing it succeed made all her hard work worthwhile. She thanked Davis and Leslie Nienaber for their hard work and support, as well as all volunteers for their help behind the scenes.

“An event like this is never the work of one person. It takes a team and I’m incredibly grateful for ours.”

The captain also thanked their sponsors, businesses and individuals for their generosity, saying their contributions helped create a memorable experience for the participants.

Responding to the importance of golf to women, O’Donoghue said it challenges them mentally and creates lifelong friendships.

“It brings women of different ages and backgrounds together and it gives us something to share and enjoy. I would love to see even more women taking up golf and experiencing that sense of community.”

O’Donoghue said she hopes the ladies created long-lasting memories during the tournament.

“Of course, everyone would love to play well, but winning is not everything. I hope the ladies left with new friendships, wonderful memories, lots of laughs and a real appreciation for the people who made the day possible. Most importantly, I hope they left already looking forward to coming back,” she said.