Canon SA bolsters support for women’s golf in South Africa
Canon South Africa has bolstered its support for the Sunshine Ladies Tour as the title sponsor of the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club – the kickoff event for the 2018 season.
“We are thrilled to help bring to fruition the fifth season of the prestigious Sunshine Ladies Tour and contribute to the sustainability of women’s golf in South Africa. The Sunshine Ladies Tour has grown tremendously since 2014 to become the country’s most illustrious women’s golf circuit, attracting a high caliber of talent from South Africa and abroad. It is heartening to see the tremendous and growing enthusiasm for women’s golf in South Africa. We feel privileged to be part of it once again,” says Dana Eitzen, Corporate and Marketing Communications Executive from Canon South Africa.
Canon South Africa has a proud legacy of support for South African golf.
The company was the headline sponsor of the Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open in 2017 and will continue to support Africa’s premier disabled golf championship in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Canon South Africa also sponsors the South African Disabled Golf Association’s (SADGA) First Swing Program, a development programme for children with disabilities.
The Sunshine Ladies Tour was launched to sustain the future of playing professionals in South Africa and the continued growth of women’s golf in the region. The first season featured eight events with prize money of just over R1-million. By 2017, the total bounty was just short of R4-million, with the top ten ranked professionals vying for a R1-million bonus pool. This year, thanks to continued backing of loyal sponsors, there is an unprecedented prize pool of nearly R4.5-million, as well as a R100 000 incentive prize for the Investec Property Fund Order of Merit winner.
Aside from these financial incentives, the Sunshine Ladies Tour offers female golfers the opportunity to compete against some of the very best in the world in world-class tournaments right here, on home soil. In 2017, the Sunshine Ladies Tour nearly 50 international players, triple the number of foreigners who competed in 2016, and around 70 top South African female golfers campaigned on the local circuit.
Sunshine Tour Chief Executive Selwyn Nathan says the growing interest from players and support from sponsors indicates that women’s golf in South Africa is healthy and thriving.
“The Sunshine Ladies Tour has grown tremendously over the years to become a prominent highlight on the annual golf calendar. Canon South Africa is delighted to see women’s golf go from strength to strength!”
The 2018 Sunshine Ladies Tour will feature seven events, starting with the Canon Ladies Tshwane Open from 23 to 25 January.
South Africa’s Carrie Park, who won the Sunshine Ladies Tour Classic sponsored by Canon, 2016 Ladies Tshwane Open winner Kiran Matharu from England, and European Tour Ladies champion Anne-Lise Caudall from France will be chasing the lion’s share of the R400 000 purse alongside the country’s top golf exports Lee-Anne Pace, Ashleigh Buhai, Stacy Bregman and Nicole Garcia at Pretoria Country Club.
Also look out for Swazi powerhouse Nobuhle Dlamini, and two of South Africa’s former top ranked, Chiara Contomathios and Texas State University graduate Lora Assad, in the season-opener.
This is followed by:
- Joburg Ladies Open from 31 January to 2 February at Modderfontein Golf Club (R500 000 in prize money).
- Cape Town Ladies Open from 6 to 8 February at Royal Cape Golf Club (R200 000 in prize money).
- Sunshine Ladies Tour Dimension Data Challenge (R500 000 in prize money) and Pro-Am (R100 000 in prize money) from 16 to 18 February at George Golf Club (16/17 February) and The Outeniqua Course at Fancourt (18 February).
- South African Women’s Masters from 22 to 24 February at San Lameer Country Club (R350 000 in prize money).
- SuperSport Ladies Challenge, presented by Sun International, from 28 February to 2 March at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club (R400 000 in prize money).
- Investec South African Women’s Open from 8 to 10 March at Atlantic Beach Golf Club (R2-million in prize money).
For more information please visit www.canon.co.za or follow Canon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn
About Canon Europe
Canon Europe is the EMEA arm of Canon Inc., a global provider of imaging technologies and services, and one of the world’s most well-recognised and loved brands. Canon Europe has operations in around 120 countries, employs approximately 19,000 people across the region, and contributes about a third of Canon’s global revenues annually.
Founded in 1937, Canon has been a leading name in imagery for the past 80 years, and is dedicated to helping people constantly re-imagine what is possible through imaging. From cameras to commercial printers, business consultancy to healthcare technologies, Canon enriches lives and businesses through imaging innovation.
Canon is growing the positive power of imaging technology and services. By delivering social and environmental benefits through our people and products, we are powerfully demonstrating our commitment to our philosophy of Kyosei: living and working together for the common good.
Further information about Canon Europe is available at: www.canon-europe.com
About Canon South Africa
Canon South Africa (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon Europe, came into being on January 4, 2000. Canon Europe is the regional sales and marketing operation for Canon Inc., represented in 120 countries and employing over 11,000 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Canon Europe invested in South Africa with a view to growing and expanding its market share in the country.
In South Africa, the Canon brand is today synonymous with consistency, driven by the company’s passion, imagination, knowledge and importantly, loyalty to its customers. Canon SA offers a wide range of consumer imaging products and business solutions as well as a variety of large format printers.
Canon technologies are durable, innovative, intuitive, and feature smart and environmentally sustainable designs. Canon invests heavily in R & D and will continue to deliver new and technologically advanced products that cater for a variety of requirements.
In South Africa Canon will continue to support environmental sustainability by operating responsibly, minimizing the impact of its business on the environment and also encouraging a culture of environmental awareness and accountability amongst their staff, business associates and partners. Canon has also maintained its ISO 14001 environmental accreditation since 2007.
