Month: December 2023

Casey Jarvis believes he knows the secrets of Leopard Creek, and it showed as the young South African signed for a 67 and a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

“Somebody here once said to me that at Leopard Creek the flag is a destination but you have to pick your targets. I’ve played a lot of golf here and I do know some secrets out there, and I’m using it to my advantage this week,” said Jarvis after reaching the halfway stage of this tournament on 10 under par.

His nearest challenger is England’s Marco Penge on nine under following a second round of 66 on Friday. South African amateur Christo Lamprecht kept himself in the hunt on eight under par with a second round of 69, while four-time Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Charl Schwartzel also finished the day on eight under par with a 68 including five birdies in six holes over the turn.

Jarvis has been in good form over the past few weeks as he’s challenged on numerous occasions but has yet to fully capitalise and claim a win. He was in contention for last week’s Investec South African Open before a disappointing weekend.

“I had to get over it quickly. It’s a new week this week at a golf course I really like. I left that in the past and worked hard at the beginning of the week and it seems to be paying off,” said Jarvis, who looked incredibly comfortable on this course on Friday, especially on his chip-in for birdie on the 10^th hole.

“I played really well and managed my game nicely. I’m hitting the ball great so I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully it pays off. The wind was swirling the whole day but I kept the ball in play off the tee and hit a lot of good approach shots.”

South African Robin Williams made a dream debut in the Alfred Dunhill Championship as he opened with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the first round of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament by a single stroke at Leopard Creek on Thursday.

Williams, who claimed his first Sunshine Tour victory in October’s Fortress Invitational, showed himself to be more than ready to take the step up to competing against a DP World Tour field on South Africa’s number one ranked golf course.

“I can always say I shot 65 at Leopard Creek. I’ll always have that,” said Williams, who leads the duo of South African Jayden Schaper and Spaniard Manuel Elvira who both carded rounds of 66. The two GolfRSA amateurs Christo Lamprecht and Christiaan Maas started extremely well with their rounds of five under par.

On a day that started in the rain and remained cool throughout, Williams did his scoring in the morning and set a clubhouse target that nobody else could catch.

“The greens were a lot firmer than I think we all thought they would be after the rain the night before. It was a bit of a surprise, but you just adapt to it. It was pretty fun out there. I took advantage of the par fives and the short holes and I putted well,” he said.

Williams has certainly been building to this kind of performance following his breakthrough victory on the Sunshine Tour.

“The last six or seven tournaments on the Sunshine Tour with that win in there gave me a lot of confidence coming into this tournament to know that I’ve got the game to win out here and compete. It’s now just a case of adapting and learning to play courses set up a bit tougher. This is all a learning curve for me in terms of trying to see what my game needs in order to compete at this level. It’s about learning to handle my emotions and not just my game in these big events.”

It’s also vindicated his decision to come and learn his trade on the Sunshine Tour after being raised in the United Kingdom. Born in Stellenbosch to South African parents from Springbok and Pniel, Williams’ father found work in the UK as a dentist and the family moved there when he was eight. He played for the England Boys and Men’s teams, competed in the Junior Ryder Cup on the same team as the twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, and then turned professional in 2021. After a brief stint on the Euro Pro Tour he decided that the Sunshine Tour offered the kind of competitive opportunities his career needed.

But he has plenty of experience lining up behind him, with former champions Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Charl Schwartzel as well as Erik van Rooyen all on four under par.

“The golf course is in the best condition I’ve ever seen it in. It was a good round for me. The golf course has changed a lot from the one I did so well on. It’s definitely tougher so I was happy to shoot 68,” said Schwartzel, a four-time winner of this championship.

The South African Golf Development Board’s (SAGDB) Riverside Farm golfers showcased their incredible potential during this week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship as they took part in the annual golf clinic on the magnificent grounds of the National Junior Development Centre at Leopard Creek.

The young golfers also took the opportunity to learn from Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour professionals Jacques Blaauw, Yurav Premlall, Nikhil Rama, Jovan Rebula, Keagan Thomas and Alex Levy, and the professionals were equally impressed with the talent on display

“These young kids have so much talent and it’s amazing to see it and be a part of something like this. We can see South Africa has so many good players. It’s nice to pass down experience to these young kids,” said Levy.

For Edwin Compton, the SAGDB’s Development Manager for Mpumalanga, the clinic was a perfect opportunity to showcase the decades long sustainability of the SAGDB programme and its ongoing impact on the lives of these young golfers.

“We started with 12 children on the Riverside Farm next door. Now, over a decade later, between the Riverside programme and the Komatipoort programme we have over one hundred children.”

The SAGDB is the official golf development body for South Africa, and this year it celebrates 24 years of using the game of golf to change the lives of underprivileged South Africans. The SAGDB is operational in all 14 golf unions across South Africa and enjoys the support and endorsement of the South African Department of Sports and Recreation, The R&A, GolfRSA, the Sunshine Tour, the Professional Golfers Association of South Africa, Remgro, and other official South African golf bodies and several long-term sponsors.

It is also a proud beneficiary of The Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation.

“The success of the programme is that our children and our coaches are fully committed. The children start in the programme when they are young and they are committed to staying with it and are dedicated to improving themselves and their talent. We are also incredibly privileged to have full access to the National Junior Development Centre which is arguably the best practice facility in the world,” said Compton.

The focus of the SAGDB is not just on creating great golfers. It is a holistic programme that places equal emphasis on academics and uses the discipline and values of golf to empower the youth and help them to develop into positive role models in their communities.

But there are obvious golf successes to come out of it.

“The SA Junior IPT is coming up in the next few weeks and in the eight-player team for the boys we have two players ranked in that team at number two and four on merit. Lucia Mhlabane is also the number two ranked junior woman’s golfer in the province,” said Compton.

The young golfers are equally passionate about the opportunities the game has given them.

“If it’s a dream, then I don’t want to wake up,” said Sakhile Makhatshwa. “I am enjoying life and who I am becoming. It has impacted me in my community and my school and I am very thankful to the programme for dedicating itself to us.”

“My dream is to become a pro and to change my circumstances for me and my family,” added Paulette Sibiya.

“Golf teaches us how to be patient, and that helps me in my life as well. The programme has made a big difference in my life.”

Dean Burmester tees off in this week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship seeking a rare hat-trick of titles on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour as he joins an impressive field of stars on the fairways of Leopard Creek.

Burmester has dominated the last two co-sanctioned tournaments with his victories in the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open and is a clear favourite for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, which tees off at South Africa’s top-ranked golf course on Thursday.

The fact that he has the opportunity to make it three wins in a row at possibly his favourite golf course and tournament venue this week makes the challenge even more special.

“I’m very happy and blessed to be able to come to a place like this and enjoy it and do what I love,” said Burmester.

“The only way you’ll ever understand what Leopard Creek is, is by getting the opportunity to come here personally. We get to play golf on a perfectly manicured golf course and then every time I get to the 13th green here I almost always shed a tear,” he said of the iconic green that overlooks the Kruger National Park.

Burmester’s quest to claim one of the most sought after titles on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour will face a stern test against a field including defending champion Ockie Strydom, double PGA Tour champion Erik van Rooyen, Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, former Alfred Dunhill Championship winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Branden Grace and Brandon Stone, and four-time DP World Tour champion Thriston Lawrence.

Schwartzel’s record in this championship is unsurpassed and he returns as the winner of a record four Alfred Dunhill Championship titles as well as having finishing second on four occasions. He also holds the tournament total record of 24-under-par 264 and the biggest margin of victory in the history of this tournament of 12 strokes achieved in the same year of 2012.

An emotional Dean Burmester won the Investec South African Open Championship by three strokes at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate on Sunday to claim back-to-back titles on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.

Burmester, the winner of last week’s Joburg Open, drew on all of his experience to post a final round 68 and add his name to the greats of South African golf with a winning total of 11 under par.

“Back-to-back – I’ve never done that before,” said Burmester, who also claims the double of having won both the South African PGA Championship as well as the Investec South African Open.

“To win this championship sponsored by a bank that gave me my first break is very special. It’s very emotional for me. I wanted to win this for the late Sam Hackner of Investec. I was waiting tables to make enough money to play tournaments. I’d go and practice in the morning and be tired because I only got home at 11pm from work. With Investec’s sponsorship, Sam gave me the opportunity to go and fulfil my dream. Six months later I won my first tournament and the rest is history.”

Burmester, who was close to withdrawing from this tournament with a stomach bug on Friday, set the stage for his victory with a magnificent 65 in the third round. He took that same energy into Sunday’s final round and showed his experience in a tense final round when he birdied two of his final three holes to pull clear of the pack.

“On the first tee on Saturday I said to my caddie we’re either shooting 65 or 85 today, but we’re going for it. Then I was just so calm on Sunday. I felt no nerves. I’m very grateful. This is a tournament I watched growing up and I watched legends like Ernie (Els), Retief (Goosen), Louis (Oosthuizen) and Branden (Grace) win this.”

Italy’s Renato Paratore, Sweden’s Jesper Svensson and South Africa’s Ryan van Velzen shared second place on eight under par.

Altin van der Merwe finished as the leading amateur to secure the Freddie Tait Cup on his first appearance in the Investec South African Open. Van Der Merwe closed with a 74 to finish on two over par and cap a magnificent year for GolfRSA’s number one ranked player.

“It’s been so much fun this week. The golf course was a great test and the professionals I played with were so good to me. Playing here as the number one amateur and to have the fans and my whole family out here and my fiancé caddying for me as well has been awesome. To add my name to the Freddie Tait Cup means a lot to me, especially being in the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation as well and to do it for them and Ernie and my family. It’s a huge honour for me,” said the 27-year-old.

It was a challenging day worthy of the Investec South African Open, and it was a day when two young South Africans rose to that challenge.

Jayden Schaper and Ryan van Velzen, two good friends who’ve come through the ranks of GolfRSA together and onto the Sunshine Tour, will head into Sunday’s final round of the Investec South African Open tied for the lead on nine under par.

On a day of intense heat, tough pin placements and a Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate playing extremely long, Schaper signed for a solid third round of five-under-par 67 and Van Velzen responded with a patient two-under-par 70.

The South Africans hold a one-stroke lead over countryman Louis de Jager, who posted a 70. But the leaderboard remains extremely tight, with Dean Burmester signing for a 65 that puts him in a dangerous group of challengers including Matteo Manassero and David Ravetto on seven under par. Burmester is chasing back-to-back victories following his win in last week’s Joburg Open.

But for two young South Africans who’ve been dreaming of this moment since their junior golf days together, Sunday is going to be a day to remember as they tee off in the final group together.

“I have some very good memories of this championship. Growing up and playing all the GolfRSA events and doing well in all of those, this is kind of the next one on the list. I had a strong amateur career with some good wins, and I’ve learnt a lot for this moment. Growing up you always want to win your national Open. I’ve had great experiences of it in the past from my first time playing in it as an amateur,” said Schaper.

It was a sentiment echoed by Van Velzen.

“I think it’s great. You know myself, Jayden and Casey (Jarvis) have all grown up together and been friends for a very long time. I think whatever happens tomorrow, we’ll celebrate together after the round,” said Van Velzen.

Both Schaper and Van Velzen did exceptionally well to work their way to the top of the leaderboard in a third round that surprised many in the field in terms of how tough the course played.

“Normally on moving day they put the pins in easier positions and move the tee boxes forward to create a few more birdies. But today was the opposite – they tucked the pins, the greens were firm, the tee boxes were back so it was just brutal out there,” said Schaper.

Van Velzen was equally pleased with how he handled the round.

“I think I played unbelievably well today. I played smart golf. I stayed very patient and was fine with making pars out there. I wasn’t going to chase birdies with those tough flags because that’s how bogeys are made. But it was a lot of fun out there with the crowd chanting my name,” he said.

Come Sunday afternoon, the crowds could well be chanting the name of a new young South African adding his own name to the greats on this prestigious trophy.

Jesper Svensson will take a one-shot lead into the weekend of the Investec South African Open Championship and with young South African Casey Jarvis maintaining his challenge in a group of three players chasing the Swede at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate.

Svensson signed for a second round of 67 on Friday to lead on nine under par as he hopes to become only the third Swedish winner of the Investec South African Open and the first since Henrik Stenson in 2012. Mathias Grönberg was the first in 2000.

“It feels great halfway through the tournament and I’m happy to be in a good position going into the weekend,” said Svensson, who teed off his second round on the 10th and made four birdies in his first five holes to set the tone for his charge up the leaderboard.

“I had a hot start and the putter was on fire from the beginning. But it was a long day. It feels like a never-ending golf course out there.”

Behind him is the trio of Jarvis, Italy’s Matteo Manassero and first-round leader Joakim Lagergren of Sweden.

After a 70 to remain in contention, Jarvis is certainly looking forward to a big weekend in front of his home fans.

“I can’t wait to get out there again. I just had a lot of fun with my caddie today and we were very relaxed out there. It felt like another social round out there and I’ll try and approach it the same over the next two days,” said Jarvis, who was level par at the turn before making three straight birdies.

“I didn’t play the best on the front nine and kind of told myself to get going when I got to the turn, and those three birdies really helped.”

Jarvis is doing his best to apply the patience he learnt in a strong season on the European Challenge Tour as he heads into the weekend with a place in South African golf history in sight.

“Patience is key and I think I’m doing that well. It’s a big goal of mine to start well in these first few events of the new DP World Tour season at home and I’m trying to take advantage of that. I’ve put myself in a good position and I’ll give it my all.”

Altin van der Merwe was the only amateur to make the halfway cut of level par as he came through 36 holes on one under par, and he will therefore win the Freddie Tait Cup as the leading amateur in the Investec South African Open.