Dagar proves age is just a number

CAPE TOWN, 3 April 2019 - A perfect example proving age is just a number, at least in the game of golf, First Car Rental congratulates a talented teenager who has been welcomed to the Investec South African Women's Open Honours Roll this year.

Nineteen-year-old, Diksha Dagar, celebrated her maiden win, in just her fourth professional start, to win the tournament and claim the 2019 Investec South African Women's Open trophy.

Dagar, born hearing-impaired, had a cochlear implantation before she was six years old, which helps her hear at close-to-normal levels. She is a former World Deaf Championship winner and a Deaflympics silver medallist (Samsun, Turkey, Summer 2017), which she won when she was just 16 years old.

Says Dagar, "I just went out today trying to play my normal game, I really didn't expect to win, but it happened, and I am very happy. I got two lucky breaks towards the end, with a long birdie putt on 15 and then the chip-in on 16. Normally, I would just try to chip it close and make the par putt, but this time I had a feeling I could do it and it happened!"

GolfRSA Elite Squad player and South Africa's amateur superstar, Kajal Mistry, lifted the Jackie Mercer Trophy as amateur winner, marking the fifth successive time that the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation member won the leading amateur honours on the ladies tour this season.

Says Mistry, "I originally targeted a top 10 finish in the rankings, but I've reset my goal to top three. I never ever expected to do so well on the Sunshine Ladies Tour; it's been a massive confidence boost for my game going forward."

First Car Rental's #RhinoFirst Juke Joins Birdies4Rhinos

First Car Rental's beloved #RhinoFirst Nissan Juke made an appearance at the Investec South African Women's Open 2019 in support of the Birdies4Rhino Campaign, which saw players donating bucks for Birdies.

Golfers also reached for their phones to snap selfies with the brand-wrapped #RhinoFirst car in the hope of winning a Birdies4Rhino head-cover and towel, in support of rhino conservation.

Birdies4Rhinos is an initiative set up by European Tour players, Justin Walters and Dean Burmester, who wanted to do their bit to save these great animals.

The concept is to donate money for every birdie played throughout the season.

In the first year, 2017, players raised over R140,000. SAWM Golfers Nicole Garcia and Stacy Bregman are ambassadors for the Birdies4Rhino Campaign.