Author: Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – South Africa’s Jayden Schaper didn’t drop a single shot in heavy rain and despite a suspension of play for lightning, and England’s Nathan Kimsey ran onto the tee with 30 seconds to spare after making it in as first reserve through a late withdrawal to see them share the clubhouse lead with Germany’s Maximilian Steinlechner on a wild first day of the Joburg Open on Thursday.

Schaper, Kimsey and Steinlechner did well with their opening rounds of six-under-par 64 for a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Wilco Nienaber, Jacob Olesen, Darius van Driel and Hugo Townsend.

The almost constant rain from early on Thursday morning and the one hour and 45-minute delay because of lightning means the first round will have to be completed on Friday morning.

South Africa’s Luke Brown is seven under through 12 holes, and Spain’s Angel Ayora is on six under with three holes to complete.

Jacques Kruyswijk, who lost in a playoff for this title last year, and former Joburg Open champion Richard Sterne made good starts with their rounds of two-under 68, and American Patrick Reed – making his debut in this event – signed for an opening one-under 69.

Schaper was only too happy to have finished his round as he looks for his third victory on the DP World Tour this season.

“It’s always nice to get off to a good start, especially with it being so wet out there. It’s hard to judge what the greens are going to do with your approach shots and the spin. There were a lot of slow patches on the greens as well. But I just played the same game I’ve been playing. From tee to green I was pretty good,” he said of a round that included an eagle on the par-five fifth hole where he hit a rescue to 15 feet and holed the putt.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the week. We’ll have to see what the weather has planned for us. You can’t control that so we’ll see what happens.”

Kimsey was just as delighted with his round, especially considering he didn’t think he’d play. He was waiting at the clubhouse as first reserve, and a late withdrawal saw him running to the 10^th tee with seconds to tee off.

“I turned up at the club first thing hoping I’d get a tee time. The last tee time in the morning wave came and went and no word. I came back to the clubhouse and had my feet up when I suddenly got the phonecall to say I was in,” he said.

“Under the circumstances my round was fantastic. I just took it as an opportunity I got at the last minute, and it worked out pretty well.” – Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Watching Jayden Schaper and Casey Jarvis win back-to-back on the DP World Tour this season has given Nikhil Rama an even greater belief in his own ability heading into this week’s Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club.

The 24-year-old Rama is back on his favourite Johannesburg fairways this week, and where he finished sixth in the 2023 Joburg Open.

“I just feel at home out here. I’m very comfortable with this golf course. I’ve played here all my life. Even in practice rounds I don’t need to do too much because I know what to do around here,” he said ahead of Thursday’s first round.

“This is my favourite co-sanctioned of the year. I’ve played the Joburg Open every year since I turned pro. It’s got a special place in my heart.”

That sixth-place finish in a Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event was exactly the confirmation Rama needed to know he can compete at this level. And having played junior golf with the likes of Schaper and Jarvis and now seeing them win has boosted that self-belief.

“It gave me the confidence that I can compete out here. Ever since that 2023 performance my game has levelled up. I haven’t had it completely yet, but this week again I know I can compete.

“I grew up competing with Jayden and Casey. I started a bit later and they were winning quite a lot at junior level already. But it gives me the confidence that I know I can compete on their level. What they’re doing is special and I know I’ve got the same capabilities.”

Scotland’s Calum Hill is also looking forward to drawing on his positive memories of Houghton Golf Club as the defending champion.

“It’s nice to have all the good memories coming back. As a golfer you sometimes just remember the bad shots, but this week all I’m remembering are the good shots I hit here last year,” said Hill.

His playoff victory over South Africa’s Shaun Norris and Jacques Kruyswijk was his second DP World Tour title and led to one of his best finishes on the Race to Dubai Rankings of 38^th last season.

“The win last year was great because I’d put in a lot of hard work for six months before that, so it was nice to get something out of it. It just kicked everything off for me and put me in a really good position.”

He returns to Johannesburg in good form after a solid finish of tied 20^th at the Investec South African Open, and two runners-up finishes this year already.

“The game is in good shape. I’ve had a nice start to the year and I’d like to just keep that momentum going this week. I think my game combined with the good memories here all adds up to a decent week. The course is soft after all the rain, but overall it’s immaculate.” – Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Casey Jarvis will do his best to reset for their week’s Joburg Open, having arrived home to see the pin flags of both The Masters and The Open at his house as a reminder of what he has achieved in recent weeks.

His back-to-back victories in the Magical Kenya Open and Investec South African Open lifted him to 80^th on the Official World Golf Ranking – the highest of his career –, third on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings, second on The Courier Guy Order of Merit on the Sunshine Tour, and with exemptions into the upcoming Masters and Open to look forward to.

This week he returns to a Joburg Open where he finished ninth in 2022, and hoping to join an exclusive club that includes giants of the game such as Seve Ballesteros and Sir Nick Faldo who have claimed three successive victories on the DP World Tour. Ballesteros achieved this in 1986 and Faldo in 1983.

“That would be crazy. I’ll definitely go for it. To have my name up there with theirs would be unreal,” said Jarvis, who still cannot believe how his career – and life – has changed.

“I got home on Monday, and to see The Masters pin flag and The Open pin flag was truly unreal. It’s crazy that I’m going to The Masters. To have won my home Open is a dream come true.”

But he is well aware of the challenge he faces again this week at Houghton Golf Club.

“The Joburg Open was one of those I’ve wanted to win. It would be nice to be in contention for it, but as always, everybody starts again at level par this week. It’s been two long weeks for me mentally, but I’m going to give it my all and hopefully it turns out well. I’ll keep my expectations very low. There are so many good players here like Patrick Reed and Jayden Schaper, so I know it will be a long hard battle. Houghton is a tricky little short golf course with very slopey greens. Your iron play has to be spot on this week, and your putting as well if you want to compete.” – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – The world of golf has opened up for young South African Casey Jarvis.

The 22-year-old won the 115^th Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Sunday to not just add his name to South African golf history, but also secure exemptions into The Masters in April and The Open in July this year.

As golf dreams go, it’s one of the biggest for this young star of the game who has come through the ranks of GolfRSA, and who with this victory has now won every major national amateur and professional trophy in South African golf.

“It just feels amazing. To be standing in this position right now, I truly feel on top of the world,” said Jarvis.

In one of the most composed rounds of his professional career, Jarvis beat a tough Stellenbosch Golf Club course, rain, and a lightning delay to close with a final round of 67 and win by three strokes on 14 under par.

South Africa’s Hennie du Plessis, France’s Frederic Lacroix and Italy’s Francesco Laporta shared second place on 11 under par. Lacroix and Laporta took the other two exemptions into The Open that were on offer in this championship.

“There were so many people that came to watch and it was fantastic. Hennie (Du Plessis) and Francesco (Laporta) played great golf, but I knew I had to just keep making pars and I did that pretty well,” said Jarvis.

“As South African golfers we all dream of winning our home Open and to have done it feels amazing. I just can’t wait to go to Augusta. It’s so cool. I’ve got no words to describe the feeling. Hopefully Tiger Woods is playing because he’s my role model. And to play The Open with all of its history is unreal. I can’t wait.”

Jarvis went into the final round one stroke clear of the field and kept himself in front all day, even when he made a bogey on the 10^th, on his way to back-to-back victories on the DP World Tour after winning in Kenya the week before. Jarvis is the second South African after Jayden Schaper to win back-to-back on the DP World Tour this season.

Charl Barnard won the Freddie Tait Cup for the leading amateur after finishing on level par with a closing 68. “If you told me three years ago I’d even be playing in the Investec SA Open, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Things can change very, very quickly,” he said.

It was indeed a dream Sunday for South African golf, with record crowds for the national Open.

And they came to cheer for Jarvis, who was a young amateur with the biggest dreams when he worked as a volunteer at the 2017 Investec South African Open just so he could watch Rory McIlroy play.

On Sunday at Stellenbosch Golf Club, he played his way into South African golf history.

And the entire world of golf has opened its arms to him. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – Casey Jarvis called it “My greatest putt in front of my home crowd” as he made an incredible par at the last to wild cheers from the crowd that earned him the lead in the Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Saturday.

Jarvis signed for a third round of 64 to claim a one-stroke lead on 11 under par. His nearest challengers are fellow South African Hennie du Plessis, who signed for a 67, and Italian Francesco Laporta, who posted a 70, on 10 under par.

Jarvis hit his second on the par-four 18^th far right and into the hospitality before going on to hole a 23-footer for par that brought an almighty cheer from the crowd.

“It was such a cool moment. The home support is fantastic. I love playing here,” said the young South African, who is hunting back-to-back victories on the DP World Tour after winning in Kenya last week.

The incredible atmosphere on Saturday made an impact on all the players.

“The crowds definitely kept me going. It’s a pity not every event is like this. I’ve never experienced this before,” said Du Plessis.

And Laporta agreed. “The crowd was amazing. It was crazy.”

They needed every bit of that support on a day when this Stellenbosch Golf Club course again showed itself to be an incredibly fair test, and with a change in wind direction making it even harder.

“It wasn’t easy out there today. It’s not an easy course. I started slowly and was one under through seven holes, and everything changed when I chipped in on eight. Then I said, ‘Ok, let’s go’,” said Jarvis, who birdied four of his next five holes to begin his charge.

Jarvis has put aside the memories of his breakthrough DP World Tour victory last week and says he’s completely focused on the job at hand here in Stellenbosch.

“Right now I’m focused on winning this tournament. There are a lot of good players up on the leaderboard and I’m just trying to stay patient and we’ll see what happens.”

Behind him, Du Plessis feels a similar sense that he’s peaking at the right time in this championship.

“I’m in the mix and I’m up for it,” he said.

And Laporta is just as focused, with exemptions into The Masters and The Open up for grabs on Sunday.

“Sunday is a big day. I’m in contention and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – Francesco Laporta calls South Africa his second home, and this weekend he is looking to become the first Italian winner of South Africa’s oldest professional golf tournament – the Investec South African Open.

Laporta took advantage of a windstill morning in the winelands on Friday and signed for a 64 to lead this championship on 10 under par. He is one shot clear of England’s Nathan Kimsey, who also posted his 65 on Friday morning.

Dean Burmester leads the South African challenge on eight under par following his second round of 67. And Hennie du Plessis proved just how good the morning conditions were for low scoring when he carded a course record 63 – confirmed by Stellenbosch Golf Club in light of their tee box changes for this championship and the enlarged water hazard on 18 – to climb into contention on seven under par.

Laporta spent several years living in Johannesburg and played on the Sunshine Tour before moving back to Italy, and he says his love for South Africa and its people has never left him.

“I like playing in South Africa. It’s been my second home for a long time. This course actually reminds me a lot more of the Johannesburg courses. It’s tough, the fairways are tight and there’s a lot of rough so you have to hit it straight. I like it. I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m sure the fans will cheer for the South Africans. But South Africans are always fair and it’s always good to play in front of them,” said Laporta.

The closest an Italian has ever come to winning the Investec South African Open was Renato Paratore who finished tied second in 2023. Laporta is hoping his accuracy off the tee, which has been his strongpoint, continues on the weekend to give him a shot at making history.

“My tee shots were good. On this golf course if you hit your tee shots straight you have a lot of opportunities,” he said.

Just one shot behind him, Kimsey is equally excited about the opportunity that awaits for him on a huge weekend where an exemption into the 2026 Masters and exemptions for the top three finishers not already exempt into The Open are on offer.

“My game’s been good and I’m glad I could put myself in contention here,” he said.

At two shots off the lead, Burmester has a chance at a second Investec South African Open title after winning in 2023, even though he didn’t feel like he took full advantage of the calm Friday morning conditions.

“Considering how good the conditions were in the morning, the course was really gettable and I just didn’t feel like I had my best game with me. I’m proud of the way I hung in there because the driver misbehaved quite a bit. But we’ll see what the weekend holds.”

Even Du Plessis is making no secret of his intentions this weekend.

“I feel like my game has been trending for the last month or so, and I’ve focused all of my preparation on this incredible tournament.”

The chase for a place in Investec South African Open history is about to enter the final 36 holes. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – South Africa’s Dean Burmester said he’d never experienced crowds on a first day in South African golf like he did in Thursday’s first round of the Investec South African Open,  which he ended in a share of the lead.

Golf fans lined the fairways and filled the grandstands on a day when Burmester’s opening five-under-par 65 on a challenging par-70 Stellenbosch Golf Club layout earned him a share of the lead with Spain’s Alejandro del Rey, England’s Joe Dean and Finland’s Oliver Lindell.

They are one stroke clear of South Africa’s Herman Loubser, American Johannes Veerman, England’s Nathan Kimsey and Italy’s Francesco Laporta.

GolfRSA amateur Jack Buchanan, the winner of the recent Africa Amateur Championship, leads the chase for the Freddie Tait Cup after his opening one-under 69 in what is his debut in the Investec South African Open.

Patrick Reed opened with a 71 on his debut in this this championship, and defending champion Dylan Naidoo signed for a 73. Ernie Els began his championship with a four-over-par 74.

Burmester, who won this title in 2023, said he was blown away by the throngs of fans who surrounded the first tee box and the cheers he received as a former champion stepping onto the 18^th green with a share of the lead.

“What a vibe. What a venue. Everybody has done an amazing job here. Everybody who helped get this course into incredible shape has done a fantastic job. You can look at the scoring and for a golf course of this length it’s pretty fair. It’s going to show its teeth over the rest of the championship for sure,” he said.

The revamped golf course did indeed test this field on the opening day, combined with a gusting wind that certainly caught their attention.

“It was tough. The course is showing teeth for sure and I had a hot putter today. I just felt really comfortable on these greens. They’re the same as what I play in George when I’m home. It feels easy to see the lines and they’re a very comfortable speed. It’s fun to putt on them.

“But look, you don’t win it on Thursday but you can definitely play yourself out of it. I’m happy not to have done that. I’m proud of the way I hung in there. To only make two bogeys on a golf course like this in the wind and then to make seven birdies is special. I’ve just got to stick to my guns now and hopefully I can produce three more days like this.” – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – The 115^th Investec South African Open Championship is officially sold out.

In what has been a massive response from golf fans to this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament, the organisers confirmed on Wednesday that tickets are sold out and that there will be no ticket sales online or at the gate. The tournament will be televised live on SuperSport Channel 213.

The news was announced on the eve of what is one of the most significant editions of the national Open.

With exemptions into The Masters and The Open, a field including Major winners, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players as well as Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour champions, and a revamped Stellenbosch Golf Club course, this year’s Investec South African Open will indeed be one of the greatest tributes to the history of this proud championship.

For five-time Investec South African Open champion Ernie Els, this week represents everything that is so special to him about South African golf.

“It’s great to be back here. I played a junior golf event here in Stellenbosch. I first played in the Investec South African Open as a 16 year old in 1986, and then all the way through. I’m 56 now. It just shows you what this tournament has meant to me. When I won it in 1992, that got me started winning around the world. It was the start of my whole career,” said Els.

Els added he was looking forward to the challenge of this week.

“I’m excited to play. The wind will always play a factor here. The fairways are very narrow and you can have some really difficult lies in the rough here.”

Patrick Reed, making his debut in the Investec South African Open, is equally excited to immerse himself in the history and tradition of this championship.

“I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get down here because South Africa is beautiful. The golf course is really demanding off the tee and it gets your full attention from start to finish. But knowing the history and tradition of this championship, it’s exciting and hopefully I’ll have a chance to lift the trophy on Sunday,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

STELLENBOSCH, Western Cape – With exemptions into The Masters and The Open on the line, and over 30 000 tickets sold to what is being billed as “A Tribute to History”, this week’s Investec South African Open is certainly showcasing itself to the world. And three of its former champions couldn’t be more pleased.

“This has always been the one tournament that means the most to us as South African golfers. This one has the history and the gravitas. It’s a really exciting week. I want to give my absolute best this week,” defending champion Dylan Naidoo said at Stellenbosch Golf Club on Tuesday, while surrounded by grandstands and VIP hospitality marquees that have brought the feel of Major Championship golf to the winelands.

“It’s our biggest event as South African golfers. Now the rest of the world will see what this tournament means to us,” added Branden Grace, who said he felt immense pride at being a former winner of the world’s second oldest national Open.

“I still get goosebumps when I watch the videos of my victory. This is one of those that, as a South African golfer, you want to win, and I’ve been privileged enough to do so. Anytime we have the chance to come back and support the Sunshine Tour is pretty special, and knowing that I’ve had my hands on this trophy makes this week even more special. I hear there are going to be amazing crowds this week. It’s also nice to see the Investec South African Open moving around the country like it has – from Johannesburg to Durban and now to Stellenbosch. It’s nice that it’s seeing the country,” said Grace, who won this title in January 2020.

Dean Burmester said he was equally proud to be representing his country in a field that this week includes American Ryder Cup star and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed, multiple Major winner Ernie Els, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, and a host of winners on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.

“I have so many fond memories of this event and all the history that goes with it. I’ve had a very long relationship with Investec as well, so this is a very special event for me for a lot of reasons. We have an amazing field this week, and we’ve got a really good opportunity to showcase what we’re all about as a country and how we can unite through sport, and golf plays a big part in that. It’s amazing for anybody in this field to have the opportunity to play in The Masters and The Open. To be able to showcase our young talent on a platform like this to the world is special.”

One of those young talents is South Africa’s Casey Jarvis, who tees off this week as a recent maiden winner on the DP World Tour.

“I know I’m capable of achieving things on the DP World Tour. My game relies on confidence and I’m running on that at the moment. This tournament also means the world to us as South Africans. The set-up here is amazing, the field is really strong, and it’s great to see some big overseas names wanting to come and play here.” – Michael Vlismas