South Africa’s Casandra Alexander believes the Sunshine Ladies Tour is fast becoming the main pathway onto the Ladies European Tour for the world’s women professionals as she continues to support the Tour in this week’s R1.3-million SuperSport Ladies Challenge presented by Sun International at Humewood Golf Club.
She headlines the field for the opening tournament on the 2026 Sunshine Ladies Tour, which tees off on Wednesday as the first of nine tournaments.
Alexander dominated last year’s Sunshine Ladies Tour on her way to winning the overall Investec Order of Merit. She took that form onto the Ladies European Tour and claimed a victory there as well. And she heads to Humewood currently ranked fourth on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, and with big plans for the Majors this year and her ultimate goal of graduating to the LPGA Tour.
“I try my best to support and play as many events on the Sunshine Ladies Tour as possible because I do think it is the future of qualifying for the Ladies European Tour,” said Alexander. “I think we can become the mirror image of what the Sunshine Tour is for the men’s professional graduating to the DP World Tour.
“The Sunshine Ladies Tour always makes for a good start early in the year. It gives you that confidence and a bit of an upper hand going into the Ladies European Tour season because the European weather at the same time isn’t as good, so they don’t get the same quality practise in competition over there.
“I’ve only played Humewood once but I’m a fan of links golf and have always performed well on links courses. There’s a certain way you have to play links courses, and I’ve figured out my way to play it. So I’m looking forward to the challenge of Humewood.”
Alexander’s own progression through the Sunshine Ladies Tour to a current star of the international game has definitely inspired the country’s next generation of professionals. None more so than Kaiyuree Moodley, who made her professional debut on the Sunshine Ladies Tour last year and went on to win The R&A Rookie of the Year award.
“I learned so many things in my rookie season, and this year I’d like to aim for a top-five finish on the Investec Order of Merit,” she said. “Watching Casandra win it last year and then seeing how well she played in Europe is definitely something I’d also like to achieve.
“I enjoy links golf, and Humewood is a great challenge. My game is feeling pretty good at the moment, and I think Humewood will be a very good test.”
