Month: November 2024

SUN CITY, North West – Jonathan Broomhead worked hard to maintain his place at the top of the leaderboard in a tricky third round of the Blue Label Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club on Friday.
 
After a haul of 19 and 12 points in the first two rounds of this tournament, which uses a modified stableford scoring system, Broomhead had to grind his way to an additional seven points in the third round.
 
But it was still enough to see him retain a lead he’s held since day one as he ended the round on 38 points overall.
 
His nearest challengers are England’s Jack Hawksby and South Africa’s Ricky Hendler on 33 points. Both Hawksby and Hendler added 10 points on Friday.
 
Pieter Moolman outscored the field with his 12 points on Friday, which lifted him into a share of fourth place on 26 points alongside Gerhard Pepler.
 
Broomhead had carried an eight-point lead from the first round, but the field quickly closed that gap on Friday.
 
The Durban professional was only one point clear at a stage during his round. However he finished strong with three birdies in his final four holes to give himself some breathing room again.
 
The 23-year-old is now one round away from claiming his second victory on the Sunshine Tour this season after winning the Vodacom Origins of Golf Wild Coast Sun a few weeks ago.
 
And in a strong show of the young talent currently on the Sunshine Tour, if Broomhead were to go on and win on Saturday he would become the third player 23 years old or younger to have won in the last four tournaments on Tour.
 
The 21-year-old Yurav Premlall made his breakthrough with a maiden Sunshine Tour victory in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Sishen in September.
 
Broomhead then added his win at the Wild Coast in October, and 23-year-old Robin Williams followed this by successfully defending his Fortress Invitational title.

Thriston Lawrence, currently South Africa’s highest ranked golfer on the Official World Golf Ranking, has confirmed his participation in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, with tickets and exciting luxury public hospitality options available to buy here…, or to book at [email protected].
 
The world number 50 makes his third appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He finished tied 13^th on his debut in 2022, and tied 24^th last year.
 
Lawrence joins a stellar field including defending champion and six-time PGA TOUR winner Max Homa, PGA TOUR champions Will Zalatoris and Corey Conners, DP World Tour stars Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, victorious European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, and fellow Sunshine Tour stars Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen.
 
Lawrence will head to Sun City in great form this year and ready to make a strong claim to become the first South African winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge since Branden Grace in 2017.
 
The four-time winner on the DP World Tour is in the midst of one of his most successful seasons as a professional with nine top-10s, including five runner-up finishes, on tour this year. He is currently second on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings.
 
As he challenges for glory in ‘Africa’s Major’, Lawrence also achieved his highest finish in the Majors this year of fourth in The Open.
 
“My form has been good this year. To reach the top 50 in the world has been a goal of mine for the past three years, and I feel like things are trending in the right direction. A place in the Nedbank Golf Challenge is always a good indication of this, and especially this year with the field as strong as it is. This tournament is very special to me and I’m really looking forward to playing in front of our home fans and joining my fellow South Africans in hopefully claiming a home victory,” said Lawrence.
 
This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge is also offering an unsurpassed hospitality experience for fans, including the new Hospitali-TEE Lounge and the premium Hospitali-TEE on 18^th.
 
The new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge is aimed at elevating the normal day visitor experience 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…
 
The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th offers prime Nedbank Golf Challenge viewing in an air-conditioned luxury suite overlooking the 18^th green with under cover terrace. Fans will be able to enjoy an upmarket food experience, a premium tournament beverage bar, and live TV feed of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. It’s premier location also allows fans to enjoy the nearby ‘Africa’s Mini Major’ putt-putt tournament, visit the Merchandising Marquee or follow a favourite golfer around the course. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation to enter ‘The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th’, a premium buffet offering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks within the facility, a fully-stocked premium open bar, an all-day coffee station, live TV feed of daily play, daily player autograph opportunity, sunscreen station, a limited edition VIP packaged magnum wine (1.5l), an official branded Nedbank Golf Challenge golf shirt and cap, and a Buffalo Trace Bourbon whiskey tasting. There is also the opportunity to purchase additional package add-ons that include access to the official Welcome Dinner and the Beach Party, as well as golf at the Lost City Golf Course. To book please email [email protected]