Canon South Africa has a long-standing reputation for supporting South African golf. The company, which recently announced its title sponsorship of the Canon South African Disabled Golf Open, is now proudly associated with the Sunshine Ladies Tour as a sponsor for 2017. Canon will sponsor cash and camera prizes at the Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic, to be contested at Glendower Golf Club from 21-24 February.

The Sunshine Ladies Tour launched in 2014 to ensure the future of playing professionals in South Africa and the continued growth of golf in the region. In four years, the Sunshine Ladies Tour has grown from seven to 10 events that count towards the season-finale Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies and it boasts record prize money of more than R4-million. The Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic, sponsored by Canon, is the seventh counting event this year. The tournament will carry a purse of R200 000, with a first prize of R28 000 and 250 points for the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies Points Rankings on offer for the champion.

The 2017 season culminates in Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies Final from 10 to 12 March, where the leading 10 professionals in the Points Rankings will compete for the staggering R1-million bonus pool and the winner-takes-all first prize in the season-finale.

“The Sunshine Ladies Tour has shown tremendous growth since its inception in 2014 and has become the most illustrious ladies’ professional circuit in Africa. Not only does the tour attract the country’s top golfers, but each year it has drawn more international players thanks to the great weather, tremendous support from the public, key stakeholders and sponsors, and an increasing prize pool. In total, Canon has invested in excess of R2-million in the Canon SA Disabled Golf Open, the First Swing Programme and our investment in the operations at the South African Disabled Golf Association and we are delighted to extend that support to the Sunshine Ladies Tour. We are excited to be part of bringing to fruition its fourth season this year and to assist in securing the future of the professional women’s circuit,” says Canon’s Corporate and Marketing Communications Executive, Dana Eitzen.

Sunshine Tour chief executive Selwyn Nathan says: “It is through the support and sponsorships of our loyal partners and sponsors that we have been able to stage the Sunshine Ladies Tour so successfully since 2014. We are excited that Canon is extending its support of golf in South Africa to the women’s professional circuit and proud to welcome Canon to the stable of sponsors that enable us to continue to offer our members great opportunities to compete on a credible platform for significant prizes.”

“Canon has made a noteworthy contribution to South African golf in 2017 and we intend to promote this sport amongst all South Africans through a variety of the significant events we are partnering with,” concludes Eitzen.

The upcoming Sunshine Ladies Tour events are as follows:

Sunshine Ladies Tour Dimension Data Challenge
17 - 19 February
George Golf Club and Outeniqua at Fancourt
R 350 000 prize money
R100 000 pro-am prize fund

Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic sponsored by Canon
21 - 23 February
Glendower Golf Club
R 200 000

Sun International Ladies Challenge
28 February - 2 March
Lost City Golf Course, Sun City
R 200 000

Ladies Joburg Open
5 - 7 March
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club (East Course)
R 200 000

Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies Final
10 - 12 March
Venue to be announced
R 1-million bonus pool
Winner prize to be announced