Month: September 2025

Norwegian star Viktor Hovland is set to tee it up in South Africa for the first time when he makes his Nedbank Golf Challenge debut in honour of Gary Player at the Gary Player Country Club from December 4-7, 2025.

Hovland will make his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage Black next week, as Team Europe look to defend the trophy they won two years ago. The 27-year-old made history during that victory in Rome as he and fellow Scandinavian Ludvig Åberg recorded a 9&7 victory over World Number One Scottie Scheffler and five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka.

The World Number 11 and 2023 FedExCup champion was the first player from Norway to win on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR and claimed his 11^thworldwide title with his victory at the Valspar Championship in Florida in March.

Hovland said: “I’m excited to tee it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge for the first time this December. I’ve had a lot of cool experiences at DP World Tour events around the world, and I’m looking forward to adding this one to the list.

“It’s an event that has a lot of history, a great list of winners and, of course, in honour of Gary Player, so I’m sure it will be a great week.”

This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again feature the popular Hospitali-TEE Lounge, offering an unrivalled viewing experience for fans.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge offers access to the day’s golf, an unlimited premium bar and buffet, a Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise voucher, a seat on the VIP grandstand at the 18^th green, a photo opportunity with the trophy, live entertainment, daily prizes and a player autograph opportunity.

This enhanced fan experience is centrally located close to the public village, with an air-conditioned facility that brings the best of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to the comfort of the Lounge with indoor and outdoor seating and a live TV feed of the golf.

Tickets and hospitality are on sale now at www.nedbankgolfchallenge.com

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – Haydn Porteous produced one of the great comebacks when he won the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course for his first Sunshine Tour title since 2016.

In a tournament plagued by weather delays and reduced to 36 holes, Porteous claimed a one-stroke victory on seven under par following rounds of 66 and 69.

It was a remarkable comeback for Porteous who was playing on an invitation this week and was desperately seeking to reclaim the form that saw him win two DP World Tour events in the 2016 Joburg Open and the 2017 D+D Real Czech Masters. His last victory on the Sunshine Tour before this was in the 2016 Investec Cup.

Kyle McClatchie, Herman Loubser, Luke Jerling, Allen John, Estiaan Conradie, Daniel van Tonder and Austin Bautista all shared second place on six under par.

Gabrielle Venter produced rounds of 70 and 69 to finish as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on three under par and in joint 19^th place.

But it was an emotional moment for Porteous as he broke a lengthy win drought, which brought him to tears after his victory.

The victory sees him join an illustrious list of winners on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series, which has been played on the Sunshine Tour since 2004.

It’s a series Porteous has had experience of before, having lost in a playoff for a victory in 2014.

The victory moves him into 11^th place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit. – Michael Vlismas Media

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – Kyle McClatchie, Dylan Mostert, Haydn Porteous and Ryan van der Klis will resume their second rounds on Sunday in the joint lead on six under par in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course after fading light forced an end to play on Saturday.

It was a busy day with the suspended first round eventually completed on Saturday afternoon before the golfers went straight into the second round.

Dylan Mostert finished the first round in the lead with a magnificent seven-under-par 64. But he found trouble early in his second round with a seven on his second hole of the round.

McClatchie, who is still looking for a maiden win on Tour, followed up his first round 66 with a strong start to his second round. The South African, who has only managed two top-10 finishes so far on Tour, rolled in five birdies in his first six holes. Unfortunately for McClatchie, four bogeys followed to pull him back into a share of the on-course lead.

Haydn Porteous managed to finish nine holes of his second round to share the lead, with Van Der Klis yet to tee off his second round and tied for the lead following his opening 65.

Kelsey Nicholas is the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on two-under par after finishing her first round with 69.

The second round will resume on Sunday at 07:00. – Michael Vlismas Media

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – On a first day when mist delayed the start of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course on Friday, Sunshine Tour rookie Ryan van der Klis managed to see the top of the leaderboard quite clearly.

Van Der Klis climbed into the lead on six under par with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness.

The delay caused by the mist of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands means the first round will resume at 7am on Saturday.

Van Der Klis will do so with a one-stroke lead over Samuel Simpson, who has nine holes to complete, and Christiaan Burke, who has three holes to play.

Van Der Klis, who played his college golf at Augusta University, was still fresh in his professional career this year when he won on the Betway Big Easy Tour.

Australia’s Austin Bautista is also well in contention on three under par with nine holes to play and looking for back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour after his victory in last week’s Sunbet Challenge Wild Coast Sun.

Gabrielle Venter and Kelsey Nicholas are the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals on level par through nine holes.

A two-day pro-am preceded the main professional tournament, with local Gowrie Farm member Colin Hardie claiming victory on 85 points after playing with Sunshine Tour professional Warwick Purchase on day one and then Dylan Mostert on day two, and qualifying for the Vodacom Origins of Golf Pro-Am Final at Pezula in November.

“This was my first experience of the Vodacom Origins of Golf and it was absolutely humbling to see just how good the Sunshine Tour professionals are and to spend two days inside the ropes with them. I was blown away by the experience,” he said. – Michael Vlismas Media

Former Springbok Odwa Ndungane says that beating the All Blacks in New Zealand remains one of the highlights of his rugby career, and that playing a round at Augusta National Golf Club – home of The Masters – would probably be the equivalent of that experience for him.

Speaking as a guest of the Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Pro-Am series at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course this week, Ndungane shared his thoughts on Saturday’s second Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Wellington.

“Playing the All Blacks is the one game that every Springbok player looks forward to. When you get a chance to play them twice at home like they will do now, it’s even more special. The rivalry between these two teams makes it so hard to get back-to-back wins because it means so much to both sets of players,” said Ndungane, who was part of a special group of Springboks in 2009 who did indeed beat the All Blacks in New Zealand on their way to what was then the Tri-Nations crown.

“That was very special. You know, I’ve also had the privilege of speaking to Gary Player, and he’s told me about Augusta National Golf Club and the experience of playing there. To play golf there would be incredible and probably be top of my golf Bucket List, just as beating the All Blacks in New Zealand was for me in rugby.”

Ndungane also believes Saturday’s Test will go the way of the Springboks.

“We’ve made a few changes to the team and many people might think New Zealand are the favourites. But I believe these Springboks that have been given a chance now have a point to prove, and I think they could sneak a win.” – Michael Vlismas

The Sunshine Tour’s most recent champion once walked away from being Australia’s number-one ranked amateur and a promising professional career to do humanitarian aid work in developing and war-torn countries for two years.

Austin Bautista’s thinking was simple. “Golf is just focused on yourself. I’d seen a lot of people struggling in the world through poverty or natural disasters or drugs, and I wanted to focus on others and help,” says the 28-year-old Australian, who last week became a winner on the Sunshine Tour for the first time and who takes that form into this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Gowrie Farm Lodge and Golf Course in KwaZulu-Natal.

After disappearing from golf for two years, cutting himself off from social media and all contact with his former life as he embarked on global volunteer work, Bautista made his return to professional golf in 2020.

“I didn’t intend to come back to golf to be honest. I was going to continue doing volunteer work. But I realised that if I could be successful in golf, I’d maybe have a more global platform to help people.”

It seems apt now after his victory that his first professional tournament back was the 2020 South African Open, where he finished tied 40^th. Now playing the Sunshine Tour fulltime this year, his season has been built around finishes of second in the FBC Zim Open, tied eighth in the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge and tied third in the Sunbet Challenge Time Square, before winning last week’s Sunbet Challenge Wild Coast Sun.

Bautista is currently second on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit standings and has plans to finish first at the end of the season and claim every single incentive and opportunity the Tour offers to take his career to the next level internationally.

“It’s been pretty good so far, and after the win I’m enjoying it even more out here.”

Bautista says his victory feels like he’s come full circle in South Africa, where he did some volunteer work in the townships during his time away from the game.

“South African people are very spiritual and very home grown. They are focused on treating people nicely. They’re a very grateful people. There are a lot of good things about South Africa that don’t get promoted. It’s often just portrayed as a country of crime, but that’s not the truth. I’ve found it and its people to be beautiful.”

As much as he’s now playing great golf, Bautista is still focused on spreading the one message he believes strongly in – making life better for those around him.

“I’m an ambassador for the Drug-Free World campaign. I disagree strongly with drugs, whether prescription or street drugs. It’s pushed a lot on the kids in our society now, and we lose so many people to drugs. I’m an advocate for the 21 Precepts for better living. It’s just a simple guide to live better, and to treat people better.

“I’ve always been a very aware person, and I just believe that all people are born good. It’s important that we don’t get focused on all the bad things in life, and see how we can make it better. Whatever I do or say can rub off on someone’s day for the better or worse, so I just try to lead by example.” – Michael Vlismas

The Sunshine Tour has reaffirmed its status as a tour of global opportunity with the announcement of the remainder of its 2025-26 schedule, including four DP World Tour
co-sanctioned events, four HotelPlanner Tour co-sanctioned events, the second edition
of the prestigious Courier Guy Playoffs, and the added incentives of an invitation
to The Masters as well as qualification opportunities for The Open.

The current season will reach its peak from December 2025 to March 2026, beginning with two DP World Tour co-sanctioned events in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club from 11-14 December followed by the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at La Réserve Golf Links, Heritage Resorts, from 18-21 December.
 
The new year will tee off with a new tournament, the R2.5 million Cell C Challenge at Killarney Country Club from 22-25 January 2026.
 
This will be followed by the four HotelPlanner Tour co-sanctioned tournaments, including the US$375 000 SDC Open at Zebula Golf Estate and Spa from 29 January to 1 February, the US$375 000 CIRCA Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 5-8 February, the
R7 million NTT DATA Pro-Am in partnership with Standard Bank at Fancourt from
12-15 February, and the US$ 375 000 Jonsson Workwear Open at Durban Country Club from 19-22 February.
 
The DP World Tour then brings its International Swing to South African fairways with the
US$1.5 million Investec South African Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club from 26 February to 1 March, followed by the R20.5 million Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club from 5-8 March.
 
Both of these tournaments offer historic new incentives for the professionals.
 
For the first time in Sunshine Tour history, the winner of the Investec South African Open will receive an invitation to the 2026 Masters. The Investec South African Open is also expected to once again form part of The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) for The 154^th Open at Royal Birkdale.
 
The Joburg Open will then play a key role in determining the top 72 players on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit who will qualify for The Courier Guy Playoffs at the end of the season.
 
The two-event Courier Guy Playoffs begins with a new R2.5 million tournament (still to be announced) from 12-15 March in Gauteng, followed by the R3 million DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at De Zalze from 26-29 March.
 
At the end of The Courier Guy Playoffs, the number one-ranked player on the final Courier Guy Order of Merit will receive a R500 000 cash bonus, a DP World Tour card for the following season, an exemption into the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and possible qualification routes via the Federation Ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking to The Open Championship and US PGA Championship.
 
The second and third place finishers on the Courier Guy Order of Merit will be fully exempt into all of the following season’s HotelPlanner Tour events and will also receive cash bonuses of R200 000 and R100 000 respectively.
 
“We are extremely excited about the rest of our season. The 2025-26 season on the Sunshine Tour is a powerful statement of our tour’s ability to provide a consistent and sustainable pathway to greatness throughout the year. We are recognised globally by the next generation of professionals as a true tour of opportunity which can open doors into some of the biggest and most prestigious tournaments in our game. We can do this because we have, over decades, proven ourselves as a reliable and valued partner through our longstanding Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, and with the support of our loyal partners and sponsors,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
 

SUNSHINE TOUR 2025-26 SCHEDULE
 

• Alfred Dunhill Championship | Royal Johannesburg Golf Club | 11-14 December
• AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open | La Réserve Golf Links, Heritage Resorts | 18-21 December
• Cell C Challenge | Killarney Country Club | 22-25 January 2026
• SDC Open | Zebula Golf Estate and Spa | 29 January to 1 February
• CIRCA Cape Town Open | Royal Cape Golf Club | 5-8 February
• NTT DATA Pro-Am in partnership with Standard Bank | Fancourt | 12-15 February
• Jonsson Workwear Open | Durban Country Club | 19-22 February
• Investec South African Open | Stellenbosch Golf Club | 26 February to 1 March
• Joburg Open | Houghton Golf Club | 5-8 March
  
  Courier Guy Playoffs:
• Courier Guy Playoffs tournament | 12-15 March | Gauteng
• DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB | De Zalze | 26-29 March

• DP World Tour winners Thriston Lawrence and Dylan Naidoo set for Sun City
• Nedbank Golf Challenge HospitaliTEE Lounge offers enhanced VIP fan experience.
• Tickets and hospitality now on sale HERE.

DP World Tour champions Thriston Lawrence and Dylan Naidoo will join an already strong South African contingent for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club from 4-7 December, 2025.

The duo adds to a South African challenge that includes PGA TOUR winner Aldrich Potgieter, multiple DP World Tour champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and Sunshine Tour Courier Guy Order of Merit champion Daniel van Tonder.

With Lawrence, Potgieter and Bezuidenhout in the field, this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge currently has South Africa’s top three golfers within the top 75 on the Official World Golf Ranking in action at the Gary Player Country Club.

The 28-year-old Lawrence will return to Sun City this December having recently claimed the fifth DP World Tour victory of his career.

This will be Lawrence’s fourth appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He finished inside the top 15 in two of his last three appearances, and on his debut in 2022 he was one shot off the lead going into the final round before finishing tied 13^th.

“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.

Naidoo will make his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge as the reigning Investec South African Open champion. The 27-year-old broke through with his maiden DP World Tour victory in his national Open in March this year, and is looking forward to taking his place in this illustrious field.

“Winning my national Open was a life-changing moment for me and it’s opened up so many doors, one of which is a place in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. As a young South African golfer, you grow up dreaming of winning your national Open, and then playing in and hopefully one day winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge. I can’t wait to experience a tournament that has been such a big part of South African golf history,” said Naidoo.

This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again feature the popular Hospitali-TEE Lounge, offering an unrivalled viewing experience for fans.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge offers access to the day’s golf, an unlimited premium bar and buffet, a Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise voucher, a seat on the VIP grandstand at the 18^th green, a photo opportunity with the trophy, live entertainment, daily prizes and a player autograph opportunity.

This enhanced fan experience is centrally located close to the public village, with an air-conditioned facility that brings the best of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to the comfort of the Lounge with indoor and outdoor seating and a live TV feed of the golf.

Wild Coast (Eastern Cape) – Austin Bautista’s brilliant 62 during Friday’s final round of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Wild Coast Sun secured the Australian his first title on the Sunshine Tour with a one-stroke victory on 14 under par.

“I am ecstatic and super happy to have won this week. It was a hard week but securing the title was definitely worth the wait,” said Bautista.

He even managed to win despite drawing the short straw with his roommates this week.

“The boys I’m staying with gave me the worst bed, actually they put me on the couch. But I walked away with the silverware, so it was worth it in the end,” Bautista joked.

Bautista’s form improved as the tournament progressed. He followed up his first round 69 with a second round score of 65. Heading into the final round only three shots behind the overall leader, Bautista opened his final round with five birdies in the first eight holes, followed by four more on the back nine. He dropped only one shot during his round.

“The Sunshine Tour is a great tour. We get to come to amazing places. The Wild Coast Sun is a beautiful layout – it’s so challenging.”

Bautista has been threatening a win this year, with two top-three finishes as well as an eigth-place finish leading up to this week.

Michael Hollick (66), who started the day with a one-stroke lead, finished second on 13 under par.

Samuel Simpson (66), the winner of the Mopani Zambia Open in June, shared third place with Lyle Rowe (67) on 10 under par. – Michael Vlismas Media

Wild Coast (Eastern Cape) – Michael Hollick carded a five-under-par 65 during Thursday’s second round of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Wild Coast Sun, to take a one stroke lead on nine under par. 

“It was another good day on the golf course. Yesterday was a really good round considering the tough conditions we had since early morning. It really was a tough day’s play,” said Hollick.

The winner of last month’s FNB Eswatini Challenge had a good start to his round, rolling in four birdies on the front nine, and dropping only one shot on the par four second hole. He followed this up with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine.

“Today I was able to manage my game and hit the ball into good places. I am putting nicely this week, but had two unfortunate bogeys where I overshot the greens, which are very quick downhill. Being over the green is not what you are looking for,” Hollick added.

Hollick is in good form having already claimed two Sunshine Tour titles this year.

“Tomorrow we will play the same game, tactically nothing will change. Hopefully it will be good enough to win the tournament.”

Jacques P de Villiers (69) and England’s Joe Knox (69) – who were tied for the lead after the first round – both had to settle for a round of one under par, one shot behind the leader on eight under par.

Albert Venter (68) and Lyle Rowe (65) are a further shot adrift on seven under par. – Michael Vlismas Media