Babnik leads into weekend of Investec SA Women’s Open

Slovenia’s Pia Babnik took advantage of another magnificent day in the Mother City as she claimed a three-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the Investec South African Women’s Open at Royal Cape Golf Club.

Under blue skies and with not a breath of wind, Babnik put together a 67 where she birdied three of the final four holes on both of her nines to climb to 14 under par overall.

“I played really well again today. I made even more birdies than in my first round, but I did make three bogeys, which is fine because that happens. So overall I’m really happy with my performance today,” said Babnik.

Her nearest challenger is England’s Cara Gainer on 11 under par following her 68 which also featured a strong finish of three birdies over the closing five holes. England’s Esme Hamilton is currently third on 10 under after her 70.

Caitlyn Macnab and amateur Lisa Coetzer are the leading South Africans on five under par, while Casandra Alexander fought a hard battle to make the cut but which she missed after a second-round 75.

LEADERBOARD

How it ended on day two of the Investec SA Women’s Open. #SunshineLadiesTour#WeGotGame#InvestecSAWomansOpen#LoveCapeTown#RoyalCapeGolfClub pic.twitter.com/3uskchUjFn — Sunshine Ladies Tour (@SLadiesTour) April 24, 2026

For Babnik, Friday’s weather summed up her whole approach this week.

“I’m just trying to enjoy it. It’s so much fun playing here on this beautiful course in nice weather. That’s the most important thing,” she said.

Having last won on the Ladies European Tour in 2021, she’s also more than happy to be leading going into the weekend of this Sunshine Ladies Tour co-sanctioned event.

“I like leading. This is what I work for so I’m really excited to be where I am on the leaderboard. It’s so much hard work but it always pays off. I’m really trying to keep on working hard and putting in a lot of hours, and it’s so nice to see the results coming together.

Behind her, Gainer was happy to work herself into contention on a Friday afternoon where she felt the course was a tougher challenge.

“The greens definitely firmed up and the pins were in tough positions, so I didn’t think the scores were going to be as low as the first round. I thought if I could get to three or four under I’d definitely be there or thereabouts. But I’m just enjoying it out there in the lovely weather. It’s nice to feel like you can just relax and let the golf do the talking.”

SCORES

132 - Pia Babnik (SVN) 65 67

135 - Cara Gainer (ENG) 67 68

136 - Esme Hamilton (ENG) 66 70

137 - Anna Morgan (USA) 67 70

137 - Emma Spitz (AUT) 66 71

138 - Darcey Harry (WAL) 71 67

138 - Brianna Navarrosa (USA) 67 71, Kajsa Arwefjall (SWE) 69 69, Luna Sobron Galmes (ESP) 71 67, Smilla Tarning Soenderby (DEN) 65 73

139 - Emma Grechi (FRA) 66 73

139 - Annabell Fuller (ENG) 71 68, Lisa Pettersson (SWE) 70 69, Meghan MacLaren (ENG) 68 71, Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER) 63 76

140 - Diksha Dagar (IND) 68 72

140 - Maha Haddioui (MAR) 70 70, Alessandra Fanali (ITA) 70 70, Roberta Liti (ITA) 72 68, Emma Falcher (FRA) 69 71, Alice Hewson (ENG) 68 72, Madelene Stavnar (NOR) 73 67

141 - Maria Parra (ESP) 71 70

141 - Caitlyn Macnab 70 71, Lisa Coetzer (a) 71 70, Amelia Garvey (NZL) 71 70, Thalia Martin (ENG) 72 69, Amy Lee (USA) 68 73, Anna Huang (CAN) 71 70, Anna Foster (IRL) 71 70, Cecilie Finne-Ipsen (DEN) 72 69

142 - Anna Zanusso (ITA) 72 70

142 - Hannah Screen (ENG) 70 72, Sara Kouskova (CZE) 75 67, Momoka Kobori (NZL) 72 70, Dorota Zalewska (POL) 70 72, Nobuhle Dlamini (SWZ) 73 69, Tina Mazarino (NOR) 71 71, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (AUS) 71 71, Gemma Clews (ENG) 73 69, Ana Pelaez Trivino (ESP) 70 72, Aine Donegan (IRL) 70 72

143 - Ginnie Ding (HKG) 73 70

143 - Luca Thompson (WAL) 70 73, Lucie Malchirand (FRA) 71 72, Olivia Mehaffey (NIR) 72 71, Carolin Kauffmann (GER) 73 70, Alexandra Forsterling (GER) 71 72, Alessia Nobilio (ITA) 66 77, Pranavi Urs (IND) 70 73, Sofie Kibsgaard (DEN) 70 73, Lydia Hall (WAL) 69 74

144 - Gabrielle Venter 71 73

144 - Amy Taylor (ENG) 72 72, Amaia Latorre (ESP) 71 73, Alexandra Swayne (ISV) 78 66, Avani Prashanth (IND) 73 71, Lily May Humphreys (ENG) 73 71, Lois Lau (FRA) 70 74, Kiera Floyd 72 72, Celina Sattelkau (GER) 75 69, Justice Bosio (AUS) 70 74, Corinne Viden (SWE) 72 72, Kirsten Rudgeley (AUS) 71 73, Agathe Laisne (FRA) 68 76, Fernanda Lira (MEX) 68 76

Missed the cut:

145 - Morgane Metraux (SUI) 73 72

145 - Camille Chevalier (FRA) 73 72, Harang Lee (ESP) 71 74, Aunchisa Utama (THA) 74 71, Casandra Alexander 70 75, Kelsey Bennett (AUS) 72 73, Lee-Anne Pace 74 71

146 - Agathe Sauzon (FRA) 74 72

146 - Gabriella Cowley (ENG) 73 73, Jess Baker (BRI) 76 70, Vani Kapoor (IND) 75 71, Blanca Fernandez (ESP) 72 74, Dorthea Forbrigd (NOR) 76 70

147 - Cara Gorlei 73 74

147 - April Angurasaranee (THA) 76 71, Vanessa Knecht (SUI) 76 71, Romy Meekers (NED) 74 73, Sanna Nuutinen (FIN) 74 73, Ayako Uehara (JPN) 74 73, Anne-Charlotte Mora (FRA) 75 72

148 - Tvesa Malik (IND) 74 74

148 - Charlotte Heath (ENG) 73 75, Katharina Mühlbauer (AUT) 73 75, Kaiyuree Moodley 75 73, Bobbi Brown 74 74, Nina Pegova (WHT) 73 75, Verena Gimmy (GER) 73 75, Marta Sanz Barrio (ESP) 73 75

149 - Zane Kleynhans 72 77

149 - Hitaashee Bakshi (IND) 72 77, Nadia van der Westhuizen 76 73, Amalie Leth-Nissen (DEN) 78 71, Laura Beveridge (SCO) 77 72

150 - Ana Dawson (IMN) 75 75

150 - Lorna McClymont (SCO) 79 71, Jana Melichova (CZE) 75 75, Tandi McCallum 75 75, Lucie Vachova (CZE) 74 76, Moa Folke (SWE) 77 73, Hannah Burke (ENG) 79 71, Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL) 73 77

151 - Marta Martin (ESP) 75 76

151 - Danielle du Toit 73 78, Lora Assad 75 76, Tereza Melecka (CZE) 70 81

152 - Kajal Mistry 74 78

153 - Louise Rydqvist (SWE) 75 78

153 - Jordan Rothman 75 78, Andrea Lignell (SWE) 77 76, Charlotte Millard (a) 78 75

154 - Hannah Darling (SCO) 80 74

154 - Isabella Ferreira (a) 76 78

156 - Symone Henriques 81 75

157 - Patricie Mackova (CZE) 77 80