Ashleigh Simon saved her best for last as she claimed her third Sunshine Ladies Tour title in as many weeks with an emphatic eight-stroke victory at the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies on Friday.

Simon fired a five-under-par 67 for a winning total seven under 137, while Cecilie Lundgreen from Norway and England’s Lauren Blease finished a distant second on one over 145 after carding a pair of 73s.

Simon started the final round tied for the lead with former Women’s World Cup partner, Laurette Maritz, on two under.

She put distance between herself and the chasing pack with birdies at the second, third and fifth and, after voiding a three-putt bogey at seven with a birdie at the 13th, there was no chance of catching the four-time champion.

Simon drained a 35-metre curvy, downhill putt for birdie at the 16th to increase her unsurmountable lead and signed off with a tap-in birdie after a superb chip to the 18th green.

Maritz took fourth on three over 147 with a closing 77, while Sun International Challenge winner Tandi von Ruben finished a further shot back with a final round 73.

Simon’s third win pushed her earnings just over the R60 000 mark and vaulted her to the top of the Order of Merit.

Ironically, Simon won the SA Women’s Open twice and claimed a number of victories in pro tournaments between 2004 and 2009, but all these triumphs came during her illustrious amateur career.

The 23-year-old Johannesburg pro was thrilled to finally add to her trophy case in South Africa.

“It’s so great that I finally get to take home the cash,” she laughed.

“I never won as a pro here in South Africa. Both my pro wins at the Catalonia Ladies Masters (2007) and the Portugal Masters (2011) came on the Ladies European Tour (LET).