Author: Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Haydn Porteous held onto his top spot on the leaderboard in the Cell C Challenge in Honour of Gary Player and will take a three-stroke lead into the weekend at Killarney Country Club.

Porteous shared the first-round lead with a 64 and then distanced himself from the pack with another 64 on Friday to climb to 12 under par overall.

It was another flawless performance from Porteous who has yet to drop a shot in 36 holes.

His nearest challenger is England’s Joe Long who signed for a 63 on Friday to hit the halfway mark at nine under par.

Zimbabwe’s David Amm and Benjamin Follett-Smith, and the South African duo of Nikhil Rama and Herman Loubser are currently tied third on eight under par.

Porteous has continued to ride the momentum of a big 2025 in which he made his long-awaited return to the winner’s circle with his victory in the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm where he was given an invitation by the Sunshine Tour and made the most of the opportunity.

“The win at Gowrie Farm was an awesome reboot for my career. For a long time I’ve battled with confidence and feeling like I’m moving in the right direction. Now for the first time in my career, I feel like I’m putting some big blocks down and building on them,” he said.

He also had the benefit of playing in a Blu Label Bushveld Tour event at Killarney Country Club the week before this Sunshine Tour event. Porteous missed the cut in that event with rounds of 75 and 69 and says it was a timely wake-up call for him.

“I realised I had a bit of rust in my game so I did some hard work towards the end of that week and leading up to this event, and it looks like that work has paid off.”

But arguably the biggest change in his game has come off the fairways.

“You know, getting married and welcoming our baby girl who is now coming up to four weeks old – you start to realise what life’s all about and that’s hopefully going to show in my game.” – Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – Haydn Porteous and Tyran Snyders set the tone for 2026 on the Sunshine Tour, and it began with their respective 64s to share the lead in the first round of the Cell C Challenge in Honour of Gary Player at Killarney Country Club on Thursday.

In the first competitive round of the new year on the Tour, Porteous didn’t drop a single shot as he continues his resurgence in the game, and Snyders threw in an eagle two on the first hole to join him as the holders of a one-stroke lead over the field.

“Today was a good day,” said Snyders.

“I had a specific gameplan for Killarney because it’s a demanding golf course from tee to green. It’s not a course where you can go out and try and overpower it. It’s tight off the tee so you don’t hit many drivers and a lot more irons. Positional play is key and that was my gameplan. I executed it pretty well.”

The work Snyders did over the festive season on his chipping and wedges certainly paid off on Thursday. Teeing off the 10^th, he struggled to make too much happen on his first nine. But it came together on the second nine, beginning with a hole-out for eagle on the first.

“I didn’t get any putts to drop on the first nine. Then on the first I holed out with a wedge for eagle and that was a bonus. Then I made two birdies thereafter with good wedge shots. In the break I worked hard on my chipping and wedges and getting a variety of shots there.”

It also led to Snyders’ first 29 over nine holes in a tournament, on the par-70 Killarney layout.

“I’ve never shot a 29 in a tournament before so I was very happy about that. It’s a great way to start the year.”

Their nearest challengers are a group of six players on five under, including Deon Germishuys who is looking to build on the momentum of his victory in the Fitch and Leedes PGA Championship last November.

Porteous, after a strong comeback victory in the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm late last year, continued that form with an opening round that adds to a solid run for him over the past few months.

Since winning in September last year, Porteous has had five top-15 finishes in his last eight Sunshine Tour events. That includes 14^th in the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Snyders has also started to feel more at home near the top of leaderboards, and has had five top-15s this season already.

Their 64s were certainly a clear indication of the scoring tone set for this year, with just under half the field finishing under par after day one. – Michael Vlismas

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – MJ Daffue is back in South Africa to tee it up in this week’s Cell C Challenge in Honour of Gary Player at Killarney Country Club, and says he’s excited about getting that excitement for his game that the Sunshine Tour does so well to provide.

“The Sunshine Tour creates such great opportunities. They just do things differently. It’s a different feel here and I love that. It’s really focused on the golfer and golf and providing what I’m looking for at the moment, which is that pure joy and excitement of playing the game,” says Daffue, who has spent the majority of his career campaigning on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.

His return to his roots on the Sunshine Tour comes after a difficult past two years in which he struggled with injury, and which in turn took its toll on his overall enjoyment of the game.

“It’s been an interesting two years for me. In 2023 I got a bone disease in my right hand and had to undergo surgery. The next year I got an infection in the same hand and had to get three more surgeries. It was a crazy two years of trying to get healthy and get the game back, and finding confidence again.”

With his son having just turned five and never been to South Africa, Daffue decided now was as a good a time as any to make the trip and play a run of Sunshine Tour events including the upcoming co-sanctioned tournaments with the HotelPlanner Tour before heading back to America in April.

“Struggling with the injuries has been a mental challenge for me. I’d also played a lot of golf before that and was a little burned out. I wasn’t enjoying the game and the traveling. It was just becoming a job and I had no enjoyment. But I’ve made some changes to get things back on track. I’m healthy and playing really good golf at the moment. So this seemed like a great opportunity to come to South Africa and find my game and get the love of the game back. I don’t take anything for granted. Competition is competition. I just want to compete and have fun again.

“I’m not focused too much on goals. What I’ve really worked on is to try and respect my own time. If I’m going to play this week, then my time is valuable and I’m going to respect it and make sure I do everything to the best of my ability and focus on that. I still visualise myself winning Majors, but I’m working hard on staying in the present and just being the golfer that I’m satisfied with.”

With this tournament played in honour of Gary Player, Daffue says it certainly resonates with him – as it does with all South African golfers – the path that Player laid out for them.

“When I was 11 years old I watched a tournament with Mr Player in it and he came over and handed me a signed golf ball. He set an example to spread your wings and leave South Africa and become an ambassador for us in the game, and I’ve tried to follow that in my own career.” – Michael Vlismas

Durban will once again welcome world-class international golf to its fairways as the host of the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour this February.
 
The R6 million (dependant on the $US exchange rate) tournament will be played at the historic Durban Country Club from 19-22 February in partnership with the City of Durban.
 
A strong field of South African and international golfers will head to a city that is fast establishing itself as a key destination in world golf for rising stars to make their mark in the game. This comes alongside a revamped Durban Country Club golf course that has been elevated back to its true championship potential.
 
CEO and Chairman of Jonsson Workwear, Nick Jonsson, shared, “Bringing the Jonsson Workwear Open back to Durban is incredibly meaningful for us. This is where our business was built, and where our headquarters are still located. Seeing it return to the Durban Country Club, one of South Africa’s great historic courses, and witnessing international golfers experience the rejuvenated course makes this homecoming even more memorable. Durban has a proud sporting heritage and we’re proud to partner with the city in hosting an event that spotlights excellence right here on our doorstep.”
 
The Jonsson Workwear Durban Open forms part of the South African Swing of four tournaments that will tee off the new season on the HotelPlanner Tour, the main feeder to the DP World Tour.
 
As the final tournament on this opening swing, the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open will play a key role in the quest of South African professionals to make a fast start on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and thereby try and gain promotion to the DP World Tour for next season.
 
“The Jonsson Workwear Durban Open, as part of our co-sanctioned tournaments with the HotelPlanner Tour, is an extremely valuable element of the global pathway for our Sunshine Tour members. Through consistent exposure on the HotelPlanner Tour, we have seen several members graduate onto the DP World Tour. Jonsson Workwear shares this vision of developing greatness on our fairways, and particularly in Durban which has a rich golf heritage,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
 
The partnership with Jonsson Workwear, the City of Durban and Durban Country Club has indeed yielded great success for South African professional golf.
 
JC Ritchie, the winner of this tournament in 2022, became the first South African golfer in history to finish top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings last season, thereby graduating to the DP World Tour.
 
Durban Country Club’s hosting of the 2025 Investec South African Open was another seminal golf moment for the city as South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo became the first South African player of colour to win his national Open.
 
Mr Musa Mbhele, City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, said: “Durban is proud to be the host of a premier golf tournament this February, bringing together top local and international talent for a celebration of sport, community, and economic growth. Hosting the tournament in the city is set to promote Durban as a global sporting destination while showcasing the city’s world-class facilities and vibrant culture. Young athletes, especially from the disadvantage areas, will be inspired and encouraged to participate in golf through golf clinics, school and mentorship outreach programs as well as community initiatives.
 
“This tournament will foster social cohesion and create a platform where diverse communities can come together to enjoy the spirit of competition and friendship. This is an opportunity for local youngsters to learn from the professionals, sparking interest in golf and building skills while living a healthy lifestyle.”
 
The HotelPlanner Tour has a long history of co-sanctioned success in South Africa, with this being the sixth consecutive year that the tour tees off its season in the country.
 
Jamie Hodges, HotelPlanner Tour Director, said: “Starting our season in South Africa is always a highlight of our schedule, where our players have the opportunity to play alongside the Sunshine Tour’s best. We are delighted to be back again in 2026.”
 
“We are also very excited to visit Durban this year, with its rich history in our sport. Durban Country Club will provide an outstanding test for our players, and having hosted the Investec South African Open just last year, it is the perfect setting to close out our South African Swing. We are incredibly grateful to the Sunshine Tour, Jonsson Workwear and the City of Durban for their commitment to this event.” – Michael Vlismas Media

Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, South Africa’s oldest registered company, has been appointed Official Lifestyle Partner to the Sunshine Tour, alongside its partnership with the Investec South African Open, the country’s oldest professional golf championship.

The partnership marks a strategic alignment between two institutions deeply rooted in South African heritage, and united by a shared commitment to excellence, legacy and the elevation of professional sport beyond the competition itself.

As Lifestyle Partner, Blaauwklippen will curate the social and hospitality experience surrounding Sunshine Tour events, shaping the moments where players, partners and stakeholders connect before, during and after play. The role positions the estate as custodian of the Tour’s off-course environment — where atmosphere, quality and memory are created.

For the 2026 Investec South African Open, Blaauwklippen will serve as the official wine of the championship. The estate will also host a Night Market after play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and act as an official Public Parking venue, extending the tournament experience into a broader lifestyle offering.

Founded in 1682, Blaauwklippen has an enduring reputation for quality and innovation. In 2025, the estate was named Best Heritage Wine Estate at the Global Brand Awards in Dubai, while head winemaker Narina Cloete was awarded Woman Winemaker of the Year at the LUMO Awards. The estate also received multiple Double Gold and Gold awards at both the LUMO Awards and the Michelangelo International Wine Awards.

“The legacy and tradition of Blaauwklippen Estate aligns perfectly with the deep heritage of South African professional golf, and we are delighted to welcome them to the Sunshine Tour family of iconic local brands with a global reach,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.
“The Sunshine Tour is always seeking to enhance the fan experience at our events, and our partnership with Blaauwklippen Estate brings this premier lifestyle element.”

Craig Bester, Chief Brand Executive of Blaauwklippen, said: “Our role as Lifestyle Partner is to define how the Sunshine Tour is experienced beyond the fairways. In simple terms, we curate the 19th hole, on and off the course, transforming it from a transactional moment into a considered lifestyle experience. It is not about visibility, but stewardship: of atmosphere, hospitality and the lasting impression the Tour leaves behind.”

BEL OMBRE, Mauritius – South Africa’s Jayden Schaper literally saved the best for last.

In his last shot of a defining year, Schaper chipped in for eagle to beat American Ryan Gerard in a playoff and win the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at La Réserve Golf Links on Sunday.

It was a moment of pure genius from the 24-year-old professional and capped his second consecutive victory on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour after winning the previous week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, also in a playoff.

“Those are the shots you’re dreaming about when you’re on the practice green as a youngster. To pull it off in a tournament and in a playoff – I don’t know. I just can’t wait to get back and look at the footage of that shot because you’re in the moment and focused and you don’t really take in what just happened. I’m pretty sure it’s going to hit me later but it’s just so insane,” said Schaper.

In the last three weeks he’s finished second in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, first in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and first in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

On a windy Sunday at La Réserve Golf Links, Schaper produced a final round of 64 including three birdies in his final four holes to finish at 22 under par. Gerard, playing behind him, was on the 18^th one shot behind and had a scare when he thought his ball had moved when he addressed it on the fairway. He was cleared by a rules official and went on to make an incredible birdie from the greenside bunker to tie Schaper, closing with a 66.

Gerard made his intentions clear this week when he said he’d flown all the way from Florida to play this event as a final opportunity to win and end the year in the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking, thereby securing himself a Masters invite.

Playing the par-five 18^th as the first playoff hole, both golfers made par.

And then came the moment of magic from Schaper on the second playoff hole to end a career-defining 2025 and set up an exciting 2026 for the young star.

“So far it’s been two of the best weeks of my career, but hopefully there is more to come. It’s been insane and you could never have asked for any better. It’s unreal,” he said.

South Africa’s Casey Jarvis finished third on 17 under par with a final round of 71.

Schaper’s victory capped a remarkable week on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, and on a celebrated golf course that in a very short time has garnered global awards and praise.

“It is an incredible golf course. When we played it for the first time in 2023 it had only been open for a couple of months and it was a bit young. But two years later it has matured incredibly well and the playing surfaces are as good as I’ve seen anywhere. It has to be perhaps the most stunning golf course I’ve ever seen in my 32-year tenure on the DP World Tour,” said Miguel Vidaor, Tournament Director for the DP World Tour.

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, Miko Coffee, MobiMEA, Mastercard, SMAG and iconic. – Michael Vlismas

BEL OMBRE, Mauritius – Julien Sale making the cut in his first appearance in this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was significant in many respects. Although playing under the French flag, Sale was born and raised on the nearby island of Reunion and his presence in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event is a massive source of inspiration for the young golfers in the region.
 
On a Saturday when a host of young junior golfers attended the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Golf Clinic at the La Réserve Golf Links, Sale reflects exactly the aspirational effect this event is having on the development of golf in Mauritius.
 
“This tournament is a big source of inspiration for our junior golfers,” says Yannick Mervan, President of the Mauritius Golf Federation.
 
“We have seen a good increase in terms of participation of junior in our federation. They watch these golfers on TV and there are able to see them here in real life. And we’ve seen the effect. This year we had two Mauritian junior golfers who joined the World Amateur Golf Ranking.”
 
Sale’s appearance in this event is a true return to his golf roots in a region that is starting to tell the story of its own golf heroes and create its own generation of stars who, through event, can now see a pathway to global success.
 
Sale made history on the Asian Tour this year when he won in his first tournament as a member of the Tour in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, also becoming the first French winner of this title. He ended 40^th on the HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca rankings this year with three top-10 finishes.
 
Similarly, Mauritius’ Pierre Pellegrin has come through the ranks of this tournament, having played in it since his amateur days and now as a professional. It’s been a key stepping stone in his own career as he’s now graduated to the Sunshine Tour.
 
“Playing my home Open is very important. I hope the young golfers of Mauritius are inspired by it because competing against some of the best golfers in this event is a privilege,” says Pellegrin.
 
Even for those working in the Mauritius golf industry, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a source of true pride.
 
“For us, this is the biggest tournament in the Indian Ocean. It’s a celebration of golf in Mauritius, and that’s the goal for us,” says Heritage Golf ambassador and PGA Professional Lewis Wallace.
 
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, Miko Coffee, MobiMEA, Mastercard, SMAG and iconic. – Michael Vlismas

BEL OMBRE, Mauritius – Ryan Gerard almost went undetected.

The winner on the PGA TOUR this year who is currently 57^th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) made a low-key entrance onto the Indian Ocean island for this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.

It remained that way through the wind and rain and late finish and incomplete first round of this popular tournament.

Until he hit the weekend just five shots off the lead.

So what exactly is the man who finished tied eighth in this year’s PGA Championship and won the Barracuda Championship on the PGA TOUR doing in Mauritius?

“The kind people at the OWGR sent me some end-of-year projections. I’m just outside the top 50. I figured I’d have one more crack at that and give it my best shot. Then I could hang my hat on giving it my all for the season, and the top 50 by the end of the year to get into The Masters. So that’s kind of a kick in the pants to come 10 000 miles from Florida and tee it up,” he said.

“It wasn’t on the Bingo card at the start of the season for sure, but I’m excited to be here. It’s a really cool place, and hopefully two more solid rounds will make it a nice trip that was worth it.”

He’d most likely need a win to carry him into the top 50. Should it not happen this week, then there is the opportunity of the 2026 Investec South African Open which for the first time in South African golf history is offering an exemption to The Masters for the champion.

“Potentially, it’s something I might consider. I’ve heard good things about the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and all those events. I have a couple of friends from South Africa who’ve been urging me to get down there. It just depends on the schedule. My focus is playing well on the PGA TOUR and fitting in other cool things along the way if possible. Aldrich Potgieter is a pretty good buddy of mine. I’ve played a few rounds with him this year alone. He’s been telling me I’ve got to come and play in South Africa. Nick Price told me a couple of years ago that Leopard Creek is one of his favourite golf courses. So when you hear them say things like that, it makes you want to at least look at going there. It’s a long trip from where I live and it has to fit in the schedule properly. But if it does, it’s something that I’d love to do at some point. This one just fitted in the schedule.”

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, Miko Coffee, MobiMEA, Mastercard, SMAG and iconic. – Michael Vlismas

BEL OMBRE, Mauritius – Just before the storm rolled in, Casey Jarvis caught his own bit of lightning in a bottle and signed for a 65 to lead the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on 12 under par heading into the weekend at La Réserve Golf Links.

The young South African has given himself another shot at a maiden DP World Tour title in a career that of late is producing more consistent opportunities at this level, and on the back of his two victories in three tournaments on the Sunshine Tour in November.

His nearest challenger is France’s Alex Levy on 10 under par, while PGA TOUR winner and world number 57 Ryan Gerard of America is well placed just five shots off the lead. Gerard has come to Mauritius in the hope of a win that will shift him into the top 50 on the Official Golf World Ranking before the end of the year, and which would in turn secure him a place in The Masters next year.

But for now, it’s Jarvis who’s in control of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event.

“I always love coming to Mauritius so to have started well in the first round and then to back it up with a good round today is positive,” said Jarvis, who shared the lead with Scott Jamieson after the first day.

Jarvis had the best of the early morning conditions and took advantage.

“The conditions were pretty easy. There wasn’t much wind until the last couple of holes. I’m just trying to have fun out here this week. I thought I’m in Mauritius so I might as well have fun, and it seems to be working. This is a different course that I’m used to but I like the few driveable holes out here. I just need to stay patient and stick to the same gameplan for the next two rounds.”

Levy’s 66 was equally impressive considering he didn’t drop a single shot despite playing in some of the worst weather as a heavy downpour combined with the wind to make this golf course an even tougher prospect.

“I played really solid and am very proud because the conditions were tough. I managed myself very well and am pleased with that. I’ve been working really hard the last few months and just getting back to what I used to do in the past with my swing, and it’s paying off already which is good,” he said.

Spain’s Manuel Elvira heads into the weekend on nine under par following a 67, with South Africa’s Brandon Stone on eight under.

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, Miko Coffee, MobiMEA, Mastercard, SMAG and iconic. – Michael Vlismas