Author: Michael Vlismas

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Amateur Andries van der Vyver will head into the weekend of the Sunshine Tour’s FBC Zim Open just two strokes off the lead of Chilean professional, Tomas Gana.

Gana signed for a solid four-under-par 68 at the Royal Harare Golf Club for a tournament total of 11 under par as he continues his quest for a victory in his first Sunshine Tour event of the new season.

But behind him, GolfRSA National Squad member Van Der Vyver impressed with his round of 67 to join Altin van der Merwe (68) in second place on nine under par.

Van Der Vyver has established himself as one of the rising stars of South African golf and will be taking up a scholarship at Augusta University this July. He is also looking for a rare double in this event, having won the Zimbabwe Junior Open.

Australia’s Austin Bautista, who finished second in this event last year, heads into the weekend in contention on eight under par.

Gana is looking to make his own piece of FBC Zim Open history. After Mexico’s Luis Carrera managed to become the first non-South African winner of the FBC Zim Open in 24 years with his victory last year, Gana is now aiming to keep that trend going.

After teeing off at the 10^th, he rolled in four birdies and dropped just one shot on his opening nine. There was only one more birdie for him on his second nine, but it was enough to keep him in the lead.

It was an emotional day for Doug McGuigan, who at the age of 55 made the cut in a tournament where he made his Sunshine Tour debut. McGuigan signed for a second round of 69 and is tied 21^st on four under par heading into the weekend.

Defending champion Luis Carrera struggled with a 76 and just made the cut on level par. – Michael Vlismas Media

HARARE, Zimbabwe – The growing international footprint of the Sunshine Tour was nowhere more evident than on day one of the FBC Zim Open as Tomas Gana, a professional from Chile, opened with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the first round at the Royal Harare Golf Club on Thursday.

Gana, the winner of the 2017 Latin America Amateur Championship who also played in The Masters that year, earned his Sunshine Tour playing privileges when he finished tied fifth at the recent Theo Manyama Qualifying School.

Playing in his first tournament of the new season, Gana rolled in six birdies and an eagle, with only one bogey on the scorecard to lead by one stroke from a chasing pack of six players that includes the South Africans Merrick Bremner, Jaco Prinsloo and Ryan van der Klis, as well as last year’s runner-up, Austin Bautista from Australia, Germany’s Allen John and another Chilean in Gabriel Morgan.

Bremner, a seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, was more than happy to be in contention after a challenging past few seasons for him personally.

“The last year has obviously been a bit tough. I went through the process of getting tested to be able to donate a kidney to my wife, which I did in June last year. I had about five months off without playing golf. When I returned it didn’t go the way I envisioned or planned, but I just kept grinding, practising and staying positive. Luckily, I’ve managed to put a couple of performances together.”

Bremner took full advantage of an early start to set the clubhouse target.

“I started early on the 10^th tee. It was bit cool and windy – just enough to keep you interested and awake. It was a nice day. I kept the ball in play well, hit a bunch of fairways and greens, and managed to convert a few into birdies as I was in position a lot. The conditions were nice early on and the course is playing really nicely. The greens are always great here in Zimbabwe.”

At just one stroke off the lead, Bremner is looking forward to the rest of the week.

“It’s always nice to set up a good score and have a good start to a tournament. It gives you a lot of belief in your game, knowing that you are capable of a good score and a good round.  It helps for the rest of the week because you can always draw on that,” Bremner said.

The defending champion, Luis Carrera, signed for a four-under-par 68 and is three shots behind the leader. – Michael Vlismas Media

VEREENIGING, Gauteng – Samuel Simpson claimed his second Sunshine Tour title in the season-opening Mediclinic Invitational at the Heron Banks Golf & River Estate on Saturday.

Simpson carded a final round of one-under-par 70 to win on 19 under par, three shots clear of Simon du Plooy (66) and Austin Bautista (68).

Simpson took a five-shot lead into the final round but started with a double-bogey on the first and then a bogey on the third. He steadied his round with two birdies thereafter, then added an eagle on the par-five 11^th. He birdied 13 and bogeyed 14 before parring his way to the title.

Du Plooy, who was as much as seven shots behind at the start of the round,  threatened to catch Simpson on the back nine and was just two shots behind after his birdie on the 16^th. But a bogey on 17 ended his challenge.

“I made it hard for myself early on at the start of the round, but I’m just really happy with the way I handled myself. I didn’t take myself out of it,” Simpson said.

“I’m just learning every day I’m out here and taking a lot of advice from the more experienced pros. I also just slowed my walk down and I slowed my tempo down. I just believed in myself to be honest,” Simpson said.

Bautista’s share of second continued his excellent form that saw him end last season with finishes of eighth and seventh and now start the new season with a second place.

The Sunshine Tour travels across the border for its next event, the FBC Zim Open at Royal Harare Golf Club from 7-10 May. – Michael Vlismas Media

VEREENIGING, Gauteng – Samuel Simpson carded a spectacular bogey-free nine-under-par 62 to seize the lead in Friday’s third round of the Mediclinic Invitation at the Heron Banks Golf & River Estate.

Simpson climbed to 18 under par and will take a commanding five-shot lead into Saturday’s final round.

Travis Procter impressed with a seven-under-par 64 and is in joint second place with Jaco Prinsloo (66), Keagan Thomas (68), and Austin Bautista (69) on 13 under par.

Simpson started his round with back-to-back birdies on the first and second holes followed by another birdie on the ninth. He carried that momentum into the back nine and came home in 29 with six birdies.

“Today was really good. I definitely wasn’t pushing for the score, it’s just a result of me feeling pretty calm out there and enjoying being at the top of the leaderboard. Being on Tour for the last three or four years now, I definitely feel more comfortable in that position and am back to how I was feeling as an amateur golfer,” Simpson said.

Simpson has steadily been improving since turning professional and playing on the Sunshine Tour, and then winning the Mopani Zambian Open in June last year.

“I had a great amateur career, but I feel like I have been holding back a bit. I am now just letting it go and playing golf.  The win in Zambia has really helped me getting into the bigger events and being exposed to some of the great players, and learning as much as I can along the way. This week I am just playing with a lot of freedom and the score is just a result of that,” he said.

Heading into the final round with a five-shot lead, Simpson said he will play his own game as he hunts a second Sunshine Tour title.

“I am looking forward to it. There will be different feelings and emotions as to what I have experienced before being in the lead by that much, but the goal is to just play with freedom. I would love to extend that lead and will play how I want to play. If that puts me at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the round, then I will be happy. I will hopefully be lifting the trophy at the end.” – Michael Vlismas Media

VEREENIGING, Gauteng – Australian Austin Bautista continued where he left off last season and claimed a share of the second-round lead with Keegan McLachlan in the Mediclinic Invitational at Heron Banks Golf & River Estate on Thursday.

Bautista carded a bogey-free round of five-under-par 66 to share the lead with McLachlan, who signed for a three-under-par 68, on 11 under par.

They are one shot clear of the South African duo of Keagan Thomas (67) and Wynand Dingle (64).

Bautista finished off last season in impressive form, with eighth in The Courier Guy Playoffs and seventh in the DNi Tour Championship on his way to a final placing of 15^th on the Courier Guy Order of Merit.

McLachlan did well to keep his title chase on track despite two bogeys in his round, and not having his A-game with him.

“Today was a bit more of a grind than yesterday. I just didn’t hit the ball as well and didn’t roll in as many putts as yesterday. But overall I am happy with the round. I managed it well. I played the front nine solid, missed a few putts, but had some good up-and-downs that kept the momentum going. I finished with two nice birdies,” said McLachlan.

His bogey on the 12^th came after he hit his tee shot into the hazard. But he made up for that with a solid chip to within half a foot of the hole on 13 for a birdie there. His second bogey on the 16^th hole came after one of his best drives this week, but which found the fairway bunker. The rollercoaster continued as he responded with a long birdie putt on the par-three 17^th hole.

As the joint leader heading into the final two rounds, McLachlan is looking forward to the challenge of chasing a maiden Sunshine Tour title.

“I will have the same approach and have fun. The nerves will be there, but you must use it to your advantage. I am happy with the start but there is still a long way to go. I’ve got to stick to what I am doing well and whatever happens, happens,” McLachlan said. – Michael Vlismas Media

VEREENIGING, Gauteng – Keegan McLachlan started the Sunshine Tour’s new 2026/27 season on a strong note when he opened with a bogey-free first round of eight-under-par 63 on Wednesday to lead the Mediclinic Invitational at the Heron Banks Golf & River Estate.

After losing his Sunshine Tour card at the end of last season, McLachlan has started the new season with a vengeance and earned himself a one-shot lead over MJ Viljoen and Samuel Simpson.

McLachlan started his round on the 10^th and rolled in two birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes.

“I got off to a solid start and was one under par through the first five holes after missing two short birdie putts on the 12^th and 13^th holes. I chipped in from 50 meters for an eagle on the 15^th hole, which felt like it kickstarted my round. On the 16^th hole I made an 18-foot putt to turn in four under par,” he said.

With the weather closing in, McLachlan kept the momentum going and picked up three birdies in the opening three holes of his second nine, before adding a final birdie on the sixth – his 15^th hole.

“When I got to the second green the wind was really pumping and the rain started to come down. I ended up hitting a six-iron into the third hole from 165 meters because of the rain and wind, and it ended up half a foot from the pin – I almost made a hole-in-one. It was a nice way to start the back nine – birdie, birdie, birdie. For the rest of the round I played solid golf and just stuck to my gameplan.”

Since his joint 10^th place at the 2023 Vodacom Origins of Golf KwaZulu-Natal, McLachlan struggled with his game and ultimately lost his Sunshine Tour card at the end of last season. Things, however, seem to be moving in the right direction this season.

“The last season I would say has been quite a struggle with my swing and it took a toll on my confidence mentally. I moved to a new coach in the beginning of the year – Athol Dowie – and he is keeping it very simple for me with a long-term process working on my swing. My short game has always been good, and now I am driving the ball nicely. It’s a big help on a course like this,” McLachlan said. – Michael Vlismas Media

This year, the South African challenge at The Masters will be one of the youngest, with a 21-year-old Aldrich Potgieter and a 22-year-old Casey Jarvis in the field. Charl Schwartzel brings the experience at the age of 41.

Jarvis was around eight years old when Schwartzel pulled on his green jacket in 2011, and Potgieter was about seven at the time.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy spoke this week about this being the great aspect of golf – the overlapping of generations in the game.

And there is a real sense that South African golf is overlapping now as a new generation of young stars begin their Major journeys, and more particularly their Masters journeys.

Jarvis makes his Masters debut after securing his place through his victory in the Investec South African Open.

Jarvis had no sooner won his national Open than Gary Player sent him a personal letter of congratulations, adding, “You now head to Augusta National for your debut in The Masters. Your journey in the Majors begins in earnest. I look forward to seeing you at Augusta National this year. And I look forward to shaking the hand of my fellow South African Open champion”.

Potgieter is playing in his first Masters as a professional, after making his debut as an amateur in 2023.

And Schwartzel is now a veteran of his 17^th Masters – a winner in 2011, third in 2017 and tied 10^th in 2022.

The beauty of Augusta National is that although we return to the same golf course every year for this Major, it always brings something different – subtle changes that keep it ahead of the game.

And there is a similar sense in the generations that go through here as well, from Hogan and Snead to The Big Three of Palmer, Nicklaus and Player, then to Nicklaus and Watson, on to Norman, Faldo and Ballesteros, and then to Woods and Mickelson. And now maybe to Scheffler and McIlroy.

This week, a new generation of South Africans will also start writing their own history at The Masters. – Michael Vlismas

• Casey Jarvis is crowned the winner of the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit

• Luis Carrera wins the Fortress Rookie of the Year award after making Sunshine Tour history

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – Martin Vorster was in tears as he hugged his dad and caddie, Waldo, after winning his maiden Sunshine Tour title in the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate on Sunday, with his dad saying, “We did it! We did it!”

In the final tournament of the Courier Guy Playoffs to mark the end of the Sunshine Tour’s 2025/26 season, Vorster opened the door to the start of something new with his first victory.

The young star closed with a 66 to win on 21 under par, with Altin van der Merwe and Jaco Prinsloo sharing second place on 19 under.

“It’s incredible. We were so emotional at the end because it’s been a lot of hard work and close calls. My family have supported me all the way, and it was so special to win in front of them. All the people I wanted to have here for my first win were here. If it wasn’t for what my parents, and especially my dad, have done for my career I wouldn’t be standing here. It’s pretty emotional to have had my dad on the bag for this. It was so special to do it with him. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be with anybody else,” said Vorster.

“One of my favourite things to do when I go home to Mossel Bay is play golf with my dad the whole day and then have a braai afterwards. We are really close.”

The final tournament capped a remarkable Sunshine Tour season of outstanding individual performances and the rise of a new generation of young stars.

Casey Jarvis finished a groundbreaking season as the winner of the Courier Guy Order of Merit, and was awarded the prestigious Syd Brews Trophy.

Jarvis also earned a place in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player and two Majors, namely The PGA Championship and The Open via the Federation Ranking list on the Official World Golf Ranking, in addition to him already having qualified for The Masters this year through his victory in the Investec South African Open. Jarvis also received a R500 000 cash bonus, an MSC international cruise, and the use of a Hyundai vehicle for a year.

“It was an unbelievable three weeks of winning the Magical Kenya Open and Investec South African Open and then finishing second in the Joburg Open. I think I can walk away with a lot of confidence. I’ve learnt to really manage my game well and play under big pressure. I can take a lot of positives from it all,” said Jarvis.

Mexico’s Luis Carrera was a dominant new force on the Sunshine Tour this season and was crowned the Fortress Rookie of the Year for a performance that included him making history by becoming the first player to win the Tour’s Theo Manyama Qualifying School and then the first two tournaments of the new season – the FBC Zim Open and the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am.

He adds his name to the Bobby Locke Trophy, and earns a R400 000 bonus courtesy of Fortress Real Estate, whose Rookie of the Year award continues to play a pivotal role in celebrating and supporting the next generation of Sunshine Tour talent.

“It’s been amazing. It’s been my first full season on tour and South Africa is an amazing country. The Sunshine Tour is a fantastic tour and I’ve had a great time,” Carrera said.

Steven Brown, CEO of Fortress, said: “Powering the growth of the game in South Africa means investing in its future, which is why supporting the next generation of players is a key priority for us. The Fortress Rookie of the Year award is central to this commitment, helping accelerate their development and success. As such, we doubled the prize money to show our continued support for emerging talent. Luis Carrera’s historic debut season is a powerful example of the impact this platform can have, and we’re proud to support players as they take the next step in their careers.”

Both Jarvis and Carrera also receive automatic entry into the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions supported by Attacq and WCMC in June this year, where they will compete for a first prize of R1 million.

Hennie du Plessis, who finished second on the Courier Guy Order of Merit, earns an extra R200 000 as well as an MSC local cruise and the use of a Hyundai vehicle for a year, and third-placed Herman Loubser takes home R100 000 plus an MSC local cruise and the use of a Hyundai vehicle for a year.

Loubser also earned a DP World Tour card for next season as the leading player in the top 10 of the final Courier Guy Order of Merit who doesn’t already have status on the DP World Tour.

MJ Viljoen and Pieter Moolman both received cards on the HotelPlanner Tour for next season as the next two leading players on the Courier Guy Order of Merit not already exempt for this, in fifth and sixth place respectively.

Jaco Prinsloo finished the season as the winner of the Gary Player Trophy for the lowest stroke average this season of 69.54, and awarded to the professional who has played a minimum of 19 of the 29 tournaments. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – A few days ago Jaco Prinsloo was so ill he was considering withdrawing from the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB. He’s happy he didn’t as he now takes a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate.

Prinsloo signed for a third round of 66 including a strong finish of two birdies to lead the field on 18 under par in this final tournament on the Courier Guy Playoffs series.

Altin van der Merwe produced a bogey-free 65 to finish the day as his nearest challenger on 16 under par. Martin Vorster, who led for two days, is currently third on 15 under par following a 71.

“I’m surprised. I had a rough start and thought about withdrawing, but luckily I managed to play. I’m very pleased to be here and finally feeling okay now,” Prinsloo said.

“I played solid for the most part and had one bad swing on the par-three 12^th and took a double bogey there. But I’m feeling pretty relaxed and didn’t let it phase me too much. I kept going and finished with four birdies.”

It’s been a solid season for Prinsloo, who arrived at this final tournament with six top-10s on the Sunshine Tour. That includes tied fifth in the Serengeti Playoffs before this week.

“I was in Europe and lost my card on the Sunshine Tour, so for me to be here and in the top 20 on the Courier Guy Order of Merit – I’ve felt like I’ve done well. A win would be the cherry on top. But even so, I felt like I’ve done well and I’m just happy to be here. In the final round my focus will be just to make birdies and enjoy myself.”

Daniel van Tonder produced the round of the day – and eight-under 64 that took him to eight under for the tournament as well. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – Martin Vorster retained his lead heading into the weekend of the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate, and with a very clear focus of how to approach his quest for a maiden Sunshine Tour title.

On a slightly more tricky day thanks to the wind, Vorster signed for a second round of 67 that ended with an eagle two on the par-four 18^th to lead on 14 under par overall.

His nearest challenger is Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith on 13 under par after he equalled the course record with his 63. And Jaco Prinsloo is currently third just two shots off the lead.

Vorster has had a magnificently consistent season that has brought him to this final tournament still hunting a victory.

But he’s determined to head into the final 36 holes of the 2025/26 season with a different focus as he looks to break through.

“I want to win with everything in me. But I think it’s important to phrase that I would like to win, and not I must win. If I can control my controllables really well, that’s all I can do. I can’t control what anybody else does around me. I’m just going to give it my best,” he said.

Vorster will take confidence from having retained his lead in the face of tougher conditions and the charge from Follett-Smith.

“It was definitely much harder out there. Benjamin’s 63 is unbelievable because of the wind and a few tougher flag positions. My goal today was just to try and stick to my routines and commit to my shots. It’s nice to add up the score and see that I’m in the lead.”

Follett-Smith missed a makeable birdie putt on the last for a course record at the end of a day of birdies for him.

“My girlfriend was walking with me and she kept saying, ‘Birdie again. Birdie again’. It was going well. Overall it was a lot of good shots that paid off. The goal is to win, but it’s also been nice to be here in the winelands. We’re staying on a nice wine farm and it’s good to finish your round and get your mind off golf a bit.” – Michael Vlismas