Month: August 2024

JOHANNESBURG – Danie van Tonder’s ability to ignore all the nerves that comes with the pressure of winning and simply trust his attacking instincts once again paid off as he eagled the 18^th hole to put himself in a playoff which he then won in the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge at Kyalami Country Club on Friday.

Van Tonder, who started the final round four strokes off the lead, first of all chipped in to eagle the 480m par-five closing hole in regulation play to complete a brilliant six-under-par 66 and leap to 14-under-par for the tournament.

The 33-year-old then had to wait to see if his clubhouse lead withstood the challenge of the last three two-balls. The eagle proved crucial as both Yurav Premlall and Martin Rohwer shot four-under-par 68s to also finish on 14-under, sending the trio into a sudden death-playoff on the 18th.

Premlall was eliminated on the second play-off hole as he made par and Van Tonder and Rohwer both birdied the par-five. After replaying the last hole three times, they then took on the par-three 17^th, which Van Tonder had bogeyed in regulation play. Another excellent chip shot, this time out of a bunker, set up victory for the 10^th time on the Sunshine Tour.

“I was frustrated when I stood on the 18^th tee in regulation play because I was unlucky twice on 17. First I had a bad bounce with my tee-shot that went over the green, but I hit a great chip, only for the par-putt to horseshoe out. I knew it was a big putt,” Van Tonder said.

“I also knew I had to make eagle on the last to have a chance, so we took driver and tried to get as close as possible to the water. I had a five-iron in, which finished just right of the green. I said ‘Take the pin out!’ because I knew there had to be space for the ball, and then I chipped in.

“We then went back to 17 in the playoff and Martin and I were both in the greenside bunker. He hit a good shot to about three metres, but I was able to put it within a foot and make the par,” Van Tonder said matter-of-factly about two extraordinary moments of self-belief.

“Congratulations to Daniel, who played magnificent golf. I cannot wait to welcome him and the other Sunshine Tour professionals who have qualified to join us at the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational at Sun City. I’m extremely grateful to our Sunshine Tour professionals and their ongoing support of our efforts to raise funds for The Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation,” said Gary Player.

The Serengeti Estate golfer also won the FNB Eswatini Challenge on August 3, and said he was pleased his hard work on his game since returning from Europe is paying off.

“I’ve been playing well for a while, so it’s nice to be able to pluck the fruit from the tree, so to speak. They call me the Silent Assassin and the camera is never on me back in the field, but the game is there,” Van Tonder said.

Premlall had birdied the 18^th to get into the playoff, but fell just short of his maiden Sunshine Tour title, while Rohwer had moved to 14-under with a birdie on the par-five 13^th, but he just could not grab another opportunity to move ahead.

Ruan Conradie (66), Christian Kriek (68) and Altin van der Merwe (69) finished tied for fourth on 11-under-par, while overnight leader Jonathan Broomhead made too many mistakes in the final round, suffering five bogeys in a 74 that left him on 10-under, tied for seventh with Malcolm Mitchell (68), Lyle Rowe (69), Christiaan Burke (71) and Jean Hugo (71).

Van Tonder and the next leading 22 professionals from this tournament, as well as the top five transformation professionals and two tournament invites, have earned a place in the prestigious Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational at Sun City in November, where a collection of professionals golfers, celebrities, sports stars and business leaders will come together to raise even more funds for The Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation.
 

Mauritius will once again host the crowning of the DP World Tour’s king of the Opening Swing, with the US$1.5 million AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Mont Choisy Le Golf set to feature as the final tournament of the Tour’s five-tournament swing this December.
 
Tickets will be available here through the official ticketing partner
ticketbox.mu from 1 September 2024.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will be played at the spectacular Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December, with a field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour stars set to gather on the Indian Ocean island.
 
They’ll be playing for the double incentive of AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open glory as well as a host of opportunities open to the winner of the five-tournament Opening Swing, which forms part of the DP World Tour’s 2025 Race to Dubai.
 
The winner of the Opening Swing will earn a US$200 000 bonus as well as exemption into the DP World Tour’s next Rolex Series tournament and to some of the Tour’s most historic tournaments, each offering increased Race to Dubai Ranking Points and the chance to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.
 
“AfrAsia Bank is immensely proud to be associated with the golfing sport that many of our clients enjoy. Staging the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open comes with the prospect of significant economic advantages, with tangible benefits to many vital sectors of the Mauritian economy. This tournament is a springboard to position internationally the ‘Mauritius Brand’ as a tourist destination, golfing platform and financial hub. Beyond the international pedigree of this tournament and the excitement it brings to the world of golfing, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is born out of our commitment to build lasting relationships with our stakeholders through a shared passion for golf and it helps us extend our brand footprint around the globe,” asserted Thierry Vallet, Chief Executive Officer of AfrAsia Bank.
 
This will be the second time that Mont Choisy Le Golf hosts the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open following Frenchman Antoine Rozner’s impressive triumph here in 2022. His five-stroke victory remains the biggest margin of victory in the history of the tournament.
 
“Hosting the ABMO at Mont Choisy Le Golf marks a pivotal moment for Mauritius,” said Dominique Autrey, COO of the Mont Choisy Group. “This prestigious event not only showcases our world-class course but also spotlights the North’s untapped potential.  We are hosting this tournament during the blooming of the famous Flamboyant trees around the Mont Choisy Beach and Golf estate, where sporting excellence, sustainable luxury living, and the natural beauty of Mauritius converge, offering a truly once-in-a lifestyle experience to all those attending the event. The ABMO will be a catalyst, positioning Mont Choisy and Mauritius as a premier golfing destination in the Indian Ocean.”
 
Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the leading Mauritian hospitality group, will be the official accommodation partner for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
 
“For over seven decades, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels has embodied the Art of Beautiful, offering luxury hospitality at Mauritius’s finest beachfront locations. We look forward to welcoming the world’s top golfers and their families, ensuring they experience unforgettable moments. With over 400 million households worldwide tuning in to watch the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, this event will be an opportunity to showcase not just our resorts but the unique charm and beauty of Mauritius,” said Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels CEO, Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé.
 
The global audience of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open makes the tournament a key partner for the goals of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).
 
“We look forward to hosting the professionals and their families for a week that is indeed a highlight of the golf calendar. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a key partner for Mauritius tourism as it brings the eyes of the golf world to our island and showcases our unique blend of spectacular golf courses and outstanding hospitality. We have a history in the game that stretches back over a century, and we are proud to be able to support the constant innovation in this industry that is represented by this tournament, and which reflects Mauritius as an island of energy and adventure,” said Donald Payen, Chairman of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).
 
This year marks the eighth edition of a tournament that has showcased the strength of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour’s strategic alliance, and its power to create a global pathway for its champions to further their careers at the highest level of the game.
 
Every single former champion of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is now a multiple winner on the DP World Tour, while several have also won on the PGA Tour. The tournament has also played host to Major winners, and Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars.
 
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour said: “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a proud example of our co-sanctioning success with the DP World Tour. Its status as the final tournament on the Opening Swing and the elevated opportunities that come with this is testament to its phenomenal growth since it first teed off in 2015. We are extremely grateful to AfrAsia Bank and the many sponsors who continue to make this tournament such a success.”
 
Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament & Operations Officer, said: “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will provide a fitting conclusion to our Opening Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai. Mauritius is a fantastic destination and Mont Choisy Le Golf is a worthy test that will combine for a memorable week as we celebrate the first of the DP World Tour’s global swings.”
 
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the Mont Choisy Group, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Rogers, IBL, Emtel, Heritage Resorts, Mastercard, Poncini, the Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, Kohler, ticketbox.mu, DStv, Air Mauritius, C-Care and Mautourco.

Jonathan Broomhead says it is crucial to get yourself into good positions at Kyalami Country Club and that is precisely what the 23-year-old did on Thursday as he earned himself a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge.

Broomhead fired a brilliant seven-under-par 65 in Thursday’s second round, leaving him at 12-under for the tournament. That round was made even more impressive by the fact that he did not get off to a good start at all, making bogey at the first two holes, both par-fours.

“I got off to a bad start thanks to a couple of bad swings that put me in bad positions and led to ‘simple’ bogeys,” Broomhead explained. “But having done nicely in the first round and seeing a couple of guys shooting nine-under today, there was an eight-under and another seven-under too, I knew there were quite a few birdies out there.

“So it was just a case of having a mental shift after a shaky start when I missed a couple of fairways. I drove the ball very nicely after that, which put me in position to attack the flags and score. I hit the ball well and made some putts.”

With Andrew Williamson the other golfer to shoot 65 on Thursday, lifting him into second place on 10-under, tied with Martin Rohwer (67) and Yurav Premlall, who owned the 64 to continue his great recent form, Broomhead is clear about what he needs to do in the final round to get his second Sunshine Tour title after his impressive victory in the Tour Championship delivered by The Courier Guy in April.

“I’ve kept going with the way I ended off last season by winning the Tour Champs, week-in, week-out I’m just trying to give myself opportunities and I’ve done that with five top-10 finishes this season.

“It’s going to be exciting tomorrow and I’ll just try to play the course as it is. It’s going to be colder, so that makes it tricky. But if you can hit the ball well off the tee and put yourself in good positions then there are a lot of birdies out there because you’ll get a lot of run with the course being so dry. It’s not such a long layout [6631m] and if the bounces go your way then you’ll have a lot of short clubs into the greens,” Broomhead said.

In these conditions, two shots is a handy lead but not enough to feel completely confident of winning. Apart from the trio in second, with Rohwer having won three times on tour and Premlall having finished second and third twice each this season, there is plenty of winning pedigree near the top of the leaderboard.

Jean Hugo, the owner of 20 Sunshine Tour titles after his victory at Highland Gate two weeks ago, shot a 66 on Thursday to join Christiaan Burke (68) in fifth place on nine-under-par, just three behind Broomhead.

Altin van der Merwe posted a fabulous nine-under 63 on Thursday to join nine-time Sunshine Tour winner Danie van Tonder (66), the champion in Eswatini three weeks ago, and the in-form Rookie of the Year standings leader Kyle de Beer (67) on eight-under, along with Jacques P. de Villiers (69) and Ruan de Smidt (69).

Lyle Rowe was the other golfer to shoot a wonderful 63, lifting him to seven-under-par, five off the lead, along with Christian Kriek (68), Rhys West (67) and Pierre Pellegrin (68).

JOHANNESBURG – England-based James Mack shot a six-under-par 66 on Wednesday to lead the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge after the first round at Kyalami Country Club, but there is a group of strong South African Sunshine Tour talent chasing him down just one stroke behind.

Simon du Plooy, Jacques P. de Villiers, Ruan de Smidt, Christiaan Burke, Martin Rohwer and Jonathan Broomhead all posted five-under-par 67s on Wednesday to ensure Mack has plenty of challengers in his rearview mirror.

De Villiers, whose only bogey came on the par-five 13^th when he three-putted, said the key to doing well at Kyalami Country Club on Wednesday was shaping the ball on the 6631-metre course with tight fairways.

“The fairways are very hard and they’re tight, so it’s tough to hit them with the ball bouncing so much. You’ve got to be able to shape the ball off the tee and I did that well today,” De Villiers said.

“I also putted really well and even though I made four birdies and an eagle, I still had a few horseshoes, including one that came right back at me. But it was a really solid round, I played well today in conditions that were very nice. It wasn’t too cold this morning and the wind didn’t blow too much either.”

The highlight of De Villiers’ season thus far has been finishing third in the FBC Zambia Open, which was then followed by a long break. His finishes since the Sunshine Tour returned to action have been 20^th, 43^rd, 35^th and 37^th, but the Schoeman Park golfer still feels his game is well-toned as he looks towards the co-sanctioned events in the summer.

“I’ve been working hard on my swing with Doug Wood and the changes are there or thereabouts. But the game has been trending in the right direction for sure over the last couple of weeks. It’s all preparation now for the big events on the summer swing,” the 34-year-old said.

Mack started his round on the par-four 10^th hole and immediately picked up a birdie. Two more birdies in a faultless back nine saw him go out in three-under, and he collected four more birdies on the front nine, although a bogey on the par-three fourth hole was a hiccup.

Ten other golfers are two shots behind on four-under-par.

Even while on a ranch visiting a friend in America, Gary Player’s thoughts are always on South Africa. He marvels at how well the Vodacom Bulls rugby team that his late wife Vivienne so proudly supported is doing in the Currie Cup. And he knows everything about the rising stars of South African golf who will tee it up in this week’s Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge on the Sunshine Tour.

“Vivienne would’ve had a good chuckle at the rugby the Vodacom Bulls are playing. She was a great rugby supporter and loved watching them play. Our rugby players have been such great supporters of our charity efforts over many years now. They always come out in their numbers to help us raise funds, and we’re very grateful to them for that. We’re truly blessed to get the support we do,” says Player, who at the age of 88 divides his time between America and South Africa raising funds as part of his desire to leave a greater legacy in philanthropy than in his golf career.

The R2 million Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge is an important part of this quest.

The 54-hole tournament will take place at Kyalami Country Club from Wednesday to Friday.
It is the Sunshine Tour’s own tribute to South Africa’s greatest golfer, and the Tour’s ongoing support of The Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation that in turn supports the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School that Player and his wife started over 30 years ago. The school provides education, nutrition and medical care to underprivileged children around Lanseria.

“The tournament field looks great, with so many young South African stars in there. Ryan van Velzen has had such a good run of late and I’m excited to see what he does over the next few months in the co-sanctioned tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, and on debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Yurav Premlall has been playing some wonderful golf this season and looks set to make his Sunshine Tour breakthrough, while Jonathan Broomhead is also having a good season. Kyle de Beer is another great prospect. He nearly won this tournament last season, and he’s a rookie on the Tour. South African golf is in a really strong position and it’s wonderful to see,” says Player.

There is an added incentive for the field this week. The winner of this week’s tournament as well as the next leading 22 professionals, the top five transformation professionals and two tournament invites will earn a place in the prestigious Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational at Sun City in November, where a collection of professionals golfers, celebrities, sports stars and business leaders will come together to raise even more funds for The Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation.

PRETORIA – Thriston Lawrence cautioned overnight that his three-shot lead going into the final round of the SunBet Challenge Time Square Casino event at Wingate Park Country Club would not be immune to threat, but he did not see any significant challenges on the last day as he cruised to a five-shot victory in the R2 million Sunshine Tour tournament on Friday.

And it’s not as if the rest of the field produced mediocre golf either. Lawrence was just once again pure class as he fired a five-under-par 67 to take him to 20-under for the 54 holes.

The exciting 26-year-old Dylan Naidoo matched that 67 to finish second on 15-under-par, with Yurav Premlall third on 13-under after a 71 on Friday, both making powerful statements as members of the Sunshine Tour’s Papwa Sewgolum Class for historically disadvantaged golfers. Ryan van Velzen, the 2023/24 winner of the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, produced the low round of the day, a 66 that took him into a share of fourth place on 12-under with Michael Hollick (69) and Neil Schietekat (71).

Jacques Blaauw, who was tied for second with Premlall after the second round, struggled off the tee on Friday and shot a 73 that left him on 11-under-par, tied for seventh with George Coetzee (70) and Werner Deyzel (70).

Lawrence settled any nerves right from the outset as he birdied the first two holes, and then went out in four-under 31 as he also birdied the fifth and ninth holes. The world number 76 then birdied the 11^th and 13^thholes to stretch his lead to a mighty seven shots, and he could afford a bogey on the par-three 14^th before cruising home with pars.

“It was definitely a dream start, but from the third to the eighth there was a wind change which made it tricky. But I just had to stay composed and hit my numbers. It was a good driving day, everything pretty much went where I wanted,” Lawrence said.

Even though Lawrence has a hunk of professional titles, he said his fourth Sunshine Tour win was still very special, coming in his first competitive round since injuring his back during his fourth-place finish in the Open Championship last month.

“It’s awesome, every victory is still insane to pull off. I haven’t won a normal Sunshine Tour event since 2019, and I haven’t had a win anywhere since last year, so this is nice. You never know when you’re going to win again, so I am very grateful. I will always support this tour because it gave me my start.

“It’s been a great week and to win just before I go back overseas is really nice for the confidence. No matter how much you lead by, it’s always a cool feeling on the 18^th green because you don’t want to mess up. I’m proud of my patience because the greens were tricky. My game feels great and my body feels amazing.

“But it’s back to the drawing board on Monday. I still have a job to do on the DP World Tour, I’m trying to get one of the 10 cards for the PGA Tour. Then I’ll be back for Africa’s Major [Nedbank Golf Challenge] and Leopard Creek [Alfred Dunhill Championship]. I’ve always wanted to win both of those, so hopefully I win one this year,” Lawrence, currently sixth on the Race to Dubai, said.

PRETORIA – It was not as inspired a round as his 62 on the opening day, but Thriston Lawrence was still delighted with his five-under-par 67 on Thursday in the second round of the SunBet Challenge Times Square Casino tournament at Wingate Park Country Club, giving him a three-shot lead going into the final day.

Lawrence is sitting pretty on 15-under-par, having finished strong on Thursday as he birdied the par-five 18^th to come home in four-under. The 27-year-old has pulled ahead of Jacques Blaauw, who followed his 62 with a two-under-par 70 in the second round. Yurav Premlall joined Blaauw on 12-under-par with a brilliant 66.

“In the afternoon the course firms up a bit and putting gets difficult, I didn’t make as many putts today,” Lawrence said. “But my front nine was not as good today to be honest; yesterday I was four-under through four holes, today I was level.

“So that slowed things down, but I stayed in it and was patient. I knew there were three par-fives to come on the back nine [he birdied them all], and I was very happy with five-under today. It was always going to be tough to follow a 10-under round and there were some testing flags out there, if you missed on the wrong side you were a bit screwed,” Lawrence said.

While Blaauw, co-leader after the first day, had a banal round in which his putter just could not gather him much momentum, collecting just four birdies, there were noteworthy performances from those lower down the leaderboard.

The 21-year-old Premlall went bogey-free on Thursday to give himself another chance at his maiden Sunshine Tour title after his runner-up finish earlier this month in the FNB Eswatini Challenge.

Neil Schietekat also did not drop a shot in his superb eight-under 64, lifting him into fourth place on 11-under-par, while Dylan Naidoo matched that faultless performance to move to 10-under.

Michael Hollick also had a fine day, his 66 propelling him to nine-under-par, alongside George Coetzee (71) and Werner Deyzel (68).

But Lawrence has won eight times in his professional career and he is not looking to do anything unusual to finish the job in the final round and claim a title in his first tournament since injuring his back while finishing fourth in the Open Championship last month.

“Sometimes it’s better to have less expectation, but I’m still here to try and win this tournament. Hopefully the wind doesn’t come up, but when the course is firm like this then I can be aggressive off the tee because I hit my driver pretty straight.

“Knowing you can win does help, but it’s a new round and everyone within say eight shots is still in it, someone could shoot 59. I’m just going to go out and try and enjoy it, stick to my game-plan,” Lawrence said.

Dean Burmester has confirmed that he will defend his Investec South African Open title when this prestigious championship returns to one of its most historic venues of Durban Country Club from 27 February to 2 March 2025, with tickets available to buy at www.sunshinetour.com.

Burmester claimed an emotional three-stroke victory in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament last season, adding his name to an illustrious list of past home champions from Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els to Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence.

Lawrence, the 2022 champion, has also confirmed that he will tee it up as part of a strong field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour stars chasing the $1.5 million prize money for the 114^th Investec South African Open Championship.

The championship is returning to Durban Country Club for the first time since 2010 when Ernie Els won his fifth national Open here.

“For us as South Africans it’s our fifth Major and we all want to win it so badly. To have won this championship sponsored by Investec, who gave me my first break as a young professional, is very special. 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,” said Burmester.

The championship will also have a new date. The shift from its traditional December slot on the international golf calendar to February is as a result of an international schedule change on both the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.
 
“Investec believes in the power of homegrown talent and as such sponsors both the men’s and women’s Investec South African Opens as powerful symbols of national pride. The Investec South African Open is core to the foundation of South African golf and we are incredibly excited to see the championship, the second oldest Open in world golf, return to the equally iconic Durban Country Club and for Dean to make his title defence here. Dean has a long and proud history with Investec and we are looking forward to celebrating what will most certainly be a fantastic 114^th edition of this prestigious championship,” said Peta Dixon, head of sponsorships at Investec.

“The championship’s return to KwaZulu-Natal has received enthusiastic support from the local community, as it is geared to support the region’s economy, showcasing the province’s unique appeal to the country and the world, and driving direct growth for KZN through generating business and commerce opportunities,” added Dixon.

Durban Country Club has undergone a significant renovation and the redesign of several holes to present a golf course that has been upgraded and strengthened for its hosting of the 114^th Investec South African Open Championship.

“We are extremely proud to host the Investec South African Open Championship for a record 18^th time and to showcase the major upgrades to the golf course. We are privileged to have the Investec South African Open back on these fairways for what we are sure will be a challenging and memorable test of golf,” said Errol Stewart, Chairman of Durban Country Club.

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “The Investec South African Open has a rich and proud history in South Africa golf, and Investec’s passion for this championship and our game as a whole extends to their immeasurable support of the Sunshine Tour and our transformation programme. We look forward to what will be a true showcase of the Investec South African Open in partnership with the DP World Tour.”
 
Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament & Operations Officer, said: “The Investec South African Open is one of the world’s oldest national Opens and we are proud to co-sanction it for the 28^th time in 2025.”

“The return to the iconic Durban Country Club coincides with a change in date as this historic tournament forms part of the International Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai. We are grateful to Investec and the Sunshine Tour for their support and look forward to working alongside them in the coming months.”

Jonsson Workwear is the official workwear partner of the Investec South African Open and the Sunshine Tour, joining other partners such as Hyundai, The Courier Guy, CIRCA, Airlink and Provantage as major brands supporting the national Open.

(From left to right): Mcebisi Mtshali, Marketing Manager Sunshine Tour; Richard Wainwright, Executive Investec; Selwyn Nathan, Executive Director Sunshine Tour; Julia Taylor, Investec Regional Head KZN; Nick Jonsson, Chief Executive Officer Jonsson Workwear; Grant Hepburn,
Chief Executive GolfRSA; and Thomas Abt, Commissioner Sunshine Tour.

PRETORIA – Thriston Lawrence and Jacques Blaauw both fired outstanding 10-under-par 62s to share the lead in a meeting of two of South African golf’s most in-form stars in the first round of the SunBet Challenge Times Square Casino at Wingate Park Country Club on Wednesday.

Lawrence, who is currently sixth on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, is back in South Africa to complete his rehabilitation from a back injury he suffered after the Open Championship a month ago. His first competitive round since then could barely have gone better as he plundered eight birdies and an eagle on the 6740m course in south-eastern Pretoria.

The winner of eight professional events, including four on the DP World Tour, was part of the morning field, while Blaauw, who is leading the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy and is eager to return full-time to the European tour, was off at 11.50am.

The 38-year-old Blaauw made a blazing start to his round as he set out to catch Lawrence, reaching the turn in six-under-par, which included an eagle on the 381m par-four sixth hole. Although he bogeyed the par-four 11^th, Blaauw finished strong with five birdies in the last seven holes.

“I’ve had four weeks off since hurting my back a bit at the Open and I’m not a big fan of hitting lots of balls on the range, so I felt playing this tournament would help my rehab more. And I love to compete,” Lawrence said.

“But I was still quite surprised how well it went because I’ve only played two practice rounds in the last few weeks, I didn’t expect 10-under. But the back is good and game is solid.

“I started on 10 and the eagle came on 18 after I hit a nice drive and had a good number for a nine-iron in; I hit it to three feet for a simple eagle. That got my momentum going, I had four birdies in a row to start the front nine, I was on fire,” Lawrence said.

Blaauw, who is enjoying his best season in nearly a decade with five successive top-10 finishes on the Sunshine Tour, including victory in the SunBet Challenge Sun City event, admitted the presence of Lawrence, and the fact he had shot 62, motivated him.

“What Thriston shot told me there was obviously a low score out there. I started quickly so I knew something was up. I’ve been playing good golf of late and it all came together today,” Blaauw said.

“When our DP World Tour stars play here you always want to beat them and Thriston has been playing some unbelievable golf lately. But I’ve showed I can play great golf at home, hopefully I can do the same elsewhere. Getting full status in Europe has been my plan from January and now it’s just about keeping things going.

“It’s about sticking to the processes, just letting it happen and not trying to force things. Just keep giving myself opportunities because the putter is working,” Blaauw said.

The six-time Sunshine Tour winner’s eagle came when he followed a 300m drive on the sixth with a 90m lob-wedge into the hole.

Another multiple winner on the DP World Tour, George Coetzee, is also making his way back from long-term injury, and he will certainly have a say in where the title goes this week as he shot an eight-under-par 64 on Wednesday.

Young Yurav Premlall also made his presence known with a 66, a score matched by Quintin Wilsnach.

Ryan van Velzen will make his debut in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, as the face of a new generation of young South African professionals seeking to make their mark in ‘Africa’s Major’, with tickets and an exciting new luxury public hospitality option available to buy here…

Van Velzen secured his place in a stellar international field for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, in honour of Gary Player, thanks to a groundbreaking performance on the Sunshine Tour last season which saw him crowned the winner of the overall Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

The 22-year-old will join compatriots Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen as well as defending champion Max Homa from America amongst the early stars announced for this year’s tournament, in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International. The US$6million tournament is part of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing, which will be the first of five Global Swings on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

“It’s a privilege to have qualified to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and to be there with the best players in the world. I’ve been to the Nedbank Golf Challenge a few times with my dad and friends and I watched Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood win it,” said Van Velzen.

The rising star of South African golf is already a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and has earned himself a DP World Tour card for the 2025 season. This year he also made his Major debut in The PGA Championship and The Open.

“Winning the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy last season was amazing. I mean, to win against some of the top players in the country and to perform at that level for such a long season is a great achievement. It just gave me a sense of belonging and confidence,” said Van Velzen.

Over the years the Nedbank Golf Challenge has rewarded several of South Africa’s promising professionals with a place in the field thanks to their finishes of first on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, including Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Zander Lombard, Thriston Lawrence, George Coetzee and Ockie Strydom.

In addition to a strong field, fans will be further rewarded this year with a new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge option which promises to take the normal day visitor experience to a new level with a brand new hospitality lounge located close to the Public Village and offering an air-conditioned facility with indoor and outdoor seating, a live feed of the golf, and catering throughout the day.

The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation for exclusive access to the Hospitali-TEE Lounge, a premium buffet including breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, a fully stocked open bar, an all-day coffee station, a live television feed of the golf, daily live entertainment, a daily player autograph opportunity, a sunscreen station, daily prizes and competitions, and official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise. To book click here…