Siviwe Duma hopes to bag victory at St Francis Links
East London professional golfer Siviwe Duma is chasing her first-ever win in the Standard Bank Pro-Am series at St Francis Links this week.
The two-day series started with a Pro-Am on Thursday followed by a single-round tournament scheduled for Friday.
The series is making its debut in the province, though it already has a footprint in the form of the Standard Bank Golf Development Programme now under way at the East London Golf Club.
Duma, 32, said she aimed to use home ground advantage to bag her first series victory.
“I have played in all of the series. I started participating in the event last year.
“This year I expect to win; I am looking for that first win.
“I also want to do well so I am able to attract sponsors so that I can go and play in Europe one day.
“I have an advantage this week because I am from East London. In the Eastern Cape, we have lots of wind, so I have learnt how to hit the ball in the wind.
“I think I have the advantage to win this week.”
The golfer said there was still a long way to go for women’s golf to be on the same level in terms of prize money as their male counterparts.
However, Duma applauded the work and support the Sunshine Ladies Tour and Standard Bank Pro-Am were doing to promote and empower women in the sport.
“It’s difficult for us as women professionals compared to the men because the prize money is a little for us girls compared to the guys.
“It’s also difficult to find sponsors for us to play in all of the tournaments.
“I play on the Ladies Sunshine Tour every year from January until March and then it’s the end of the season.
“Standard Bank came through and created more tournaments for us. So, now we play from March right through to December.
“There is a Standard bank Pro-Am series tournament that we play every month.
“So, the Sunshine Ladies Tour and Standard Bank are doing more for the ladies and we are very grateful for that because now we are able to play and compete more.
“Standard Bank has also opened up more opportunities for young girls who are developing.
“I have been helping out as well, like giving back to the community in East London. I help my coach train these girls and we see great talent.
“They have an interest in the game and they look up to us.
“We are role models, we are not only teaching them to play golf.
“We also teach them to be disciplined, stay away from drugs and to represent us. We need more black players at this level,” she said.