From Sunshine Ladies Tour

France’s Lucie Malchirand spoiled herself in her birthday week by winning her maiden Sunshine Ladies Tour title at the Standard Bank Ladies Open hosted by The City of Cape Town at Durbanville Golf Club on Saturday.

Malchirand – who celebrated her 22nd birthday during the second round of the tournament – closed with a level-par 72 to finish on 12-under-par, four shots clear of South Africa’s Casandra Alexander and Romy Meekers from the Netherlands who tied for second place on eight-under-par for the tournament.

“I’m really happy. It’s amazing to win my first tournament of the season. It means that I’m starting well and I’m really proud of myself. It’s been tough since I turned pro so this win means a lot,” she said.

Malchirand turned professional in 2021 shortly after winning the Ladies Italian Open as an amateur, but this week’s victory is her first professional win since joining the Ladies European Tour.

“Today was really stressful. I made two birdies at the start and I was two-under after the first eight holes. I wasn’t under pressure at all. Then I made one bogey and then another bogey so I had to talk to myself to keep on going.”

Malchirand says she enjoyed the excitement of the final round.

“I had a great fight with Casandra Alexander at the end. It was nice. I enjoyed it,” said Malchirand.

South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace finished tied fourth with Czech Tereza Melecka on seven-under-par. Pace narrowly lost in a play-off to Danielle du Toit during last weekend’s NTT DATA Ladies Pro-Am, which kicked off the 2025 Sunshine Ladies Tour season.

The third tournament on this year’s Sunshine Ladies Tour, the Jabra Ladies Classic, will be played at Westlake Golf Club from 26-28 February.