Month: October 2025

SUN CITY, North West – A selection of Sunshine Tour professionals and an array of South Africa’s most iconic sports stars started arriving at Sun City on Friday, as well as guests from around the world. And the man they have all come to celebrate with on his 90^th birthday – Gary Player – was out doing what he does best. He was on the golf course.

South Africa’s greatest ever sportsman was quietly driving around his beloved Gary Player Country Club golf course casting an eye over the layout he designed and constructed, and which itself has become an icon in the game.

It’s a golf course he has seen go through many evolutions as the game has changed over the decades. And similarly, Player will walk its fairways this weekend in his 90^th year as a man who has also evolved, from one of the game’s most iconic golfers to a leading golf course designer and then to a philanthropist.

This weekend, the Gary Player Country Club and Player’s other masterpiece here at Sun City, the Lost City Golf Club, will host the 36-hole Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational tournament in partnership with the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation and its support of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.

And the Sunshine Tour is paying its own tribute to a man who has been its greatest ambassador for decades, with 43 Sunshine Tour professionals – from stars such as David Frost to current champions such as Luis Carrera, Pieter Moolman and Warwick Purchase – competing this weekend alongside the sports stars, celebrities and business leaders who will all challenge for the famed baobab trophy.

Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt said it was a privilege for their professionals to pay tribute to Gary Player this weekend.

“Gary Player has always been one of the Sunshine Tour’s greatest ambassadors. We are truly blessed by his ongoing support of our Tour and the inspiration he is to our professionals. It is an honour for our professionals to be here, and to wish him a very happy 90^th birthday on behalf of the Sunshine Tour,” said Abt.

More importantly, they will join the other luminaries in the spirit of golf and giving that this event represents and which, through partners such as Sun International, BMW, Citadel, Tabono, The Pro Shop, Rolex and Cell C, continues to support the valuable endowment fund created to help ensure the sustainability of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.

Join the campaign:
Follow and share your acts of kindness using the hashtag #90Acts
Support the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation South Africa’s work at: https://garyandvivienneplayerfoundationdonate.org/southafrica/

Watch the stories:

@gary.player

@gvpfsa

• Haotong Li seeks to become first Asian champion in the history of “Africa’s Major”

• World-class field matched by elevated hospitality experience for fans.

• Tickets and hospitality now on sale HERE.

After coming close to being the first male golfer from China to win The Open this year, Haotong Li has now set his sights on “Africa’s Major” where he’ll join a strong DP World Tour field at the Gary Player Country Club from 4-7 December.

Li will make his sixth appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player as he seeks to become the first Asian champion in the history of this tournament.

The 30-year-old returns to a tournament where he has a strong record, including top finishes of fourth and fifth in 2017 and 2018.

Li forms part of a stellar field at Sun City including world number 11 Viktor Hovland, PGA TOUR champions Aldrich Potgieter, Nick Taylor, Will Zalatoris, Garrick Higgo and Thomas Detry, and a host of DP World Tour stars including Francesco Molinari who was a vice-captain for the victorious Team Europe in the Ryder Cup this year.

Li was chasing a unique place in the history of the game when he challenged for The 153^rd Open at Royal Portrush this year, looking to become the first male golfer from his country to win a Major before finishing fourth.

He has consistently blazed a trail for Chinese golf as he’s represented his country in The Olympic Games and Presidents Cup, and climbed as high as 32^nd on the Official World Golf Ranking.

This year he claimed his fourth DP World Tour title in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

The strength of this year’s field will be matched by an elevated fan hospitality experience.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge – an enhanced VIP hospitality option for the public – is offering a first-of-its-kind in the history of “Africa’s Major”, with fans gaining exclusive 18^th grandstand access as well as player autograph opportunities, a photo opportunity with the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy at the Hospitali-TEE Lounge facility, a voucher to the value of R500 per Hospitali-TEE Lounge ticket purchased for official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise at The Pro Shop at Sun City, and a range of other enhancements to this popular concept.

And the new Sunbet Signs on 18^th viewing seating area will make its debut this year, offering a prime viewing experience in comfortable director’s chairs right alongside the 18^th fairway and close to where most of the professionals will land their tee shots.

The Sunshine Tour’s next wave of players looking to make their way onto the DP World Tour will be confirmed this week as four South Africans tee it up in the HotelPlanner Tour’s Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A in Spain.

JC Ritchie, Daniel van Tonder, Jovan Rebula and Wilco Nienaber are all at the Club de Golf Alcanada in Mallorca chasing their DP World Tour dreams.

The top 20 players on the Road to Mallorca Ranking at the end of the Grand Final will secure DP World Tour cards for the next season.

Ritchie, the top-ranked player on the ranking, has already secured himself a DP World Tour card following his sensational three victories on the HotelPlanner Tour this season which earns him automatic qualification.

Daniel van Tonder is also virtually assured a DP World Tour card thanks to his 11^th place on the ranking after his victories in the first two events of the season in the co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa – the SDC Open and the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood Estate.

“I’ve been very consistent this season, and that has been the most satisfying for me,” said Van Tonder, who has had experience of the DP World Tour before. “I think the biggest thing I’ll take with me onto the DP World Tour this time is to just trust myself,” he said.

Both Rebula and Nienaber are currently just outside the top 20 so this week is a key opportunity for them. Rebula is in 22^nd place and Nienaber in 29^th.

“Starting the year out with no status, it’s a good thing for me to be here now and have a chance to get my hands on a DP World Tour card because that was the goal from the beginning,” said Rebula.

“These are always high-stake weeks and it’s a privilege to feel a little bit different at an event like this because there’s a lot on the line. It’s a good golf course and it suits me pretty well. It’s also lekker to have four South Africans in the field. Hopefully we can get four more South Africans on the DP World Tour.”

Nienaber is equally excited about the possibilities of this week.

“I’m feeling confident in the work I’ve done and am swinging it as good as ever. I know this course and that helps. But this week I can finish in the top 10 and it can be good enough, or I can finish in the top five it can’t be good enough depending on what the others guys do. I’ve made a few changes this year and I’m at peace with those. I haven’t had the results, but it will change at some point, so why not this week?” – Michael Vlismas

SUN CITY, North West – Hennie du Plessis claimed a fairytale victory in the Sunshine Tour’s Blu Label Unlimited Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club on Saturday, marking an emotional comeback to the game after 18 months on the sidelines because of injury.

Du Plessis won with a total of 49 points, adding eight points on the final day, to claim his third Sunshine Tour title but his first since a team victory with Jean Hugo in 2018.

Anthony Michael took second place on 35 points while MJ Viljoen and Yurav Premlall shared third place on 33 points.

It was a significant moment in more ways than one for Du Plessis, who has battled his way back from wrist surgery and a few complications with his rehab. This was also his first victory since becoming a father.

“I think that’s why golf seems a little bit easier now. It’s harder to be a parent, I can tell you that. I’m only joking. It’s been a long time since my last win. This is a special one, it’s a special place. I’ve got my family here and it’s such a special moment,” said Du Plessis.

“I put in the work to get back here. This was sort of a warmup event to see where my game is at, and I’m very happy with the way I played, especially coming down the stretch. I had a few fumbles on the back nine and my caddie Zack (Rasego) just spoke to me and told me to stay focused and slow everything down. I started seeing and hitting better shots and made a few clutch putts. I think my game is a little bit better than the last time I played.”

The tournament coincided with a 36-hole Blu Label Unlimited Ladies Challenge that took place at the Lost City Golf Course and which saw Kaiyuree Moodley claim her maiden professional title on three points, one clear of Ivanna Samu.

“It feels amazing to have my first win on tour. We’re really grateful to Blu Label for giving us a chance to play,” she said. – Michael Vlismas Media

SUN CITY, North West – Hennie du Plessis’ incredible return to the Sunshine Tour continues as he claimed the lead in the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge heading into Saturday’s final round at the Gary Player Country Club.

Du Plessis heads the field on 41 points after adding 18 points at the Gary Player Country Club on Friday. His nearest challenger is Tyrone Ryan on 31 points after he could only manage a further two points. And Yurav Premlall is currently third on 30 points following a third round of six points.

Du Plessis has been a revelation this week as he’s returned from a lengthy layoff caused by surgery to his right wrist and then had his recovery further delayed by an injury to his left wrist.

“I’m very happy to be back, and to be back at Sun City which is such a special place to start my campaign again,” he said.

“It was very unfortunate. I was doing all the right things to rehab after surgery, and then the left wrist got inflammation and an irritation of the joint. But in that time we had a baby and I had time to spend with him, which if I was playing a full schedule overseas wouldn’t have been possible.”

It’s been a remarkable comeback for Du Plessis who admits he came to Sun City just to test out where his game is at, and who now suddenly finds himself chasing his third Sunshine Tour title. His last individual victory came in 2017, while he teamed up with Jean Hugo to win the Steyn City Team Championship in 2018.

“I’m just happy to be contending. I’m very happy with the work I’ve been putting in,” he said. – Michael Vlismas Media

SUN CITY, North West – Tyrone Ryan held onto his lead in the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge but after a slightly tougher second round in which he added seven points to climb to 29 points overall.

Ryan played the Lost City Golf Club on Thursday and had to work harder for his lead than his opening 22 points over the Gary Player Country Club course.

“It was a tricky day out there with the wind. I couldn’t come to grips with the wind so that was tough. Between the pin positions and the wind, I struggled to have standard shots. I had a lot of awkward yardages. It was a battle out there today, but I kept it together.”

It opened the door for Yurav Premlall to close the gap as his nearest challenger just five points adrift of him. And Hennie du Plessis continues to impress on his comeback from injury as he shares third place with Anthony Michael on 23 points.

Premlall played the Gary Player Country Club course on Thursday and made 13 points on a golf course where he has fond memories, having won the Nedbank Junior Challenge here while still an amateur and also the Freddie Tait Cup for the leading amateur in the 2021 Investec South African Open. He clearly felt at home as he picked up the most points on the Gary Player Country Club on day two.

“It’s one of my favourite events and venues for the year and I always look forward to coming back to play this event,” said Premlall.

“The golf courses are really nice. It’s a lot softer compared to last year, so it’s easier to make birdies. I just need to keep on doing what I am doing. The format is really cool – it rewards you for making birdies, so I’m going to have to make a lot of them. I am looking forward to what the next two days will bring.”

In joint third place, Du Plessis has been enjoying his return to competitive golf following injury. “I played with zero expectations and just came here to see where my game is at, and I’m very happy. I’m in the mix so I’ll keep my foot on the pedal. I’m still trying to win a tournament and I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think my game was ready to compete with these guys.”

Another highlight of Thursday’s second round was a hole-in-one, with Deon Germishuys acing the 155-metre par-three 16^th hole with a seven iron and earning himself 50 000 Skybucks from Airlink. – Michael Vlismas Media

Sun City, North West – Tyrone Ryan embraced the modified stableford format of the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge and claimed the lead on 22 points after Wednesday’s first round at both the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club courses.

Ryan played the challenging Gary Player Country Club in the first round and teed off the 10^th hole as he worked his way into a nine-point lead.

But it was the format and how it translated to his strategy on the golf course that most excited Ryan.

“It’s just such an amazing place with so much history behind it. The greats of the game have walked these fairways. The format is nice in the sense that you need to be making birdies and eagles, so you need to be aggressive without shooting yourself in the foot. I’m always having birdie in the back of my mind in some shape or form,” Ryan said.

“The round was good. I had a lovely hole-out for eagle on my ninth hole – funny enough with the same club that I got a hole-in-one with last week,” he said, referring to his ace in last week’s Fortress Invitational where he finished tied fourth to give him good momentum coming into this week.

“I also had a chip-in eagle on my 10^th hole and carried the momentum through with birdies on my 13^th, 15^th, 16^th and 17^th holes.”

Ryan has given himself another good start as he looks to claim his second Sunshine Tour victory since breaking through in 2017.

“My golf’s been good for a while now, but I just haven’t been able to put it all together. Last week showed that patience, perseverance and good thinking on the golf course can go a long way. My short game and putting got better, and it showed today on the scorecard,” he said.

Hennie du Plessis made an impressive start in his comeback to the Tour following a lengthy layoff due to injury. He joined Keenan Davidse as Ryan’s nearest challengers on 13 points. – Michael Vlismas Media

Every week, the Sunshine Tour showcases the men who grew up dreaming of greatness and who live out those dreams on the fairways. But this year, the Tour decided to also shine a light on the men or women who stand alongside them – the caddies.

At every prizegiving on the Sunshine Tour, the winning golfer’s caddie is also welcomed forward and awarded a medallion in recognition of the role he or she played in that victory.

It’s a public recognition of the people who are often in the background, but who work every bit as hard as their professionals. They rise just as early before dawn to get to the golf course. They spend just as much time away from home and loved ones. And they take just as much pleasure in their work, and the ultimate reward of victory.

“It’s such a beautiful thing that the Sunshine Tour is doing. It’s so inspiring. With the medallion handover people can see what we do as caddies,” says Albert Mciteka, who has won two medallions this year already with two different players in Pieter Moolman at the Limpopo Championship and Haydn Porteous at the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course.

“It feels amazing to have achieved that, especially with two different players.”

Behind every bag carried and yardage book done is a story.

Mciteka’s story in golf began when he was still in primary school.

“I grew up in Stellenbosch and I’ve been caddying since I was in primary school at Koelenhof Primary. I used to skip school just so that I could caddie and make some extra cash. And I just kept on going from there. I’ve been caddying professionally for over 15 years now, on the Sunshine Tour and a bit on the DP World Tour.

“Golf means so much to me. I grew up with golf. There were one or two years where I worked because things were a bit tough, but I missed golf too much. I met Pieter Moolman five years ago and we just clicked, and we’re still together now.”

Much like the professionals who have their golfers they look up to, the caddies do the same within their own ranks.

“The late Douglas Mthembu was a mentor for me. He won the Joburg Open with Haydn Porteous. I’d often speak to him and he’d tell me how to do my job to the best of my ability.”

It’s a job he and every other caddie on the Sunshine Tour does with pride every single week.

“I’ve been fortunate to have won twice this year, but I don’t think I have any secret. I just read the greens, do my yardage book, and check potential flags for the next rounds. I just do my normal thing,” he says.

And yet every single week, it helps to unlock the extraordinary performances on the Sunshine Tour. – Michael Vlismas

Tickets available at https://www.ticketbox.mu/event/abmo-2025

Peter Matkovich, the acclaimed co-designer of the award winning La Réserve Golf Links, Heritage Resorts, has a very clear message for the golf world as this course prepares to host the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open for the second time later this year: “Word will continue to spread about just how good this golf course is”.

From 18-21 December, the Indian Ocean’s first and only contemporary links will once again take centre stage on the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour as the host of the prestigious AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. It will welcome an international field to a golf course that has already garnered worldwide praise.

In its first year after opening, La Réserve Golf Links was voted the World’s Best New Golf Course at the 2024 World Golf Awards. Matkovich was also voted the Golf Course Architect of the Year.

The renowned architect believes this year’s field will be blown away by the course, which he says has “significantly raised the standard of golf in Mauritius”.

“The course has settled and matured so well and the team at Heritage Golf Club has just been so supportive,” says Matkovich.

“The professionals play on great golf courses throughout the year and we’re proud to contribute to that. I think we’ll surprise a lot of people. I’m really looking forward to showcasing what La Réserve Golf Links is all about and how Mauritius is becoming a recognised golf destination.”

This year’s tournament will indeed represent the coming together of a number of elements that will showcase Mauritius’ growing status as a new force in the golf industry.

There is the chance of tournament history being made as England’s John Parry attempts to become the first player to successful defend his title.

There is the tournament’s status as a major economic driver for Mauritius, with the 2024 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open having delivered a record US$4.2 million in net economic impact for the Mauritian economy.

And there is a world-class golf course in La Réserve Golf Links that will provide a fitting stage as the powerful story of golf in Mauritius continues to be told to the world.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Heritage Resorts, ER Group, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Mont Choisy Group, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Range Rover, Emtel, Poncini, Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, ticketbox.mu, DStv, C-Care, Mautourco, Ernie Els Wines, CBE and Miko Coffee.

Photo Credit: Jacob Sjöman

JOHANNESBURG – Sunshine Tour rookie Warwick Purchase withstood a few final-round challenges on his way to a maiden victory in the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday.

Purchase, who held a three-shot lead going into the final round, had to endure a strong charge from the experienced Kyle Barker and a weather delay before closing with a 70 for victory on 19 under par.

Barker signed for a 69 to finish tied second with Fortress Rookie of the Year leader Mexico’s Luis Carrera (65) on 17 under par.

“I’m so happy to get the job done today. There were a couple of doubts going into the back nine and I had a bit of a tricky finish coming in,” said an emotional Purchase.

“I’m really proud of myself. I fought hard and dug deep. Right now, I’m a bit overwhelmed but I’m so overjoyed. I’ve had a tough time the last few months on the golf course, so to go on and do it this week, it’s awesome.”

Purchase came into this week’s tournament having missed the cut in his previous four events on the Sunshine Tour, and admitted it felt incredibly rewarding to finally break through with a maiden victory.

“Right now, it means absolutely everything to me. It’s obviously a goal and something I have been working towards. That’s why we practice every day and why we get up every morning. I’m really happy,” Purchase said.

With his victory, Purchase moves into second place behind Carrera on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.

Another strong finish by Carrera sees him climb into third place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit.

Tyrone Ryan closed with a 68 to take fourth place on 16 under par. – Michael Vlismas Media