Author: Michael Vlismas

South Africa’s “Big Five” – Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Garrick Higgo and Erik van Rooyen – will begin the quest to add only the fourth green jacket to the country’s list of Major triumphs when The Masters tees off at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday.

To date, Gary Player (1961, 1974 and 1978), Trevor Immelman (2008) and Schwartzel (2011) have written their names into Masters history.

The South African challenge this year represents a tantalising mix of experience and a new generation of stars.

Oosthuizen is the highest ranked South African in the field at 14^th in the world and also playing in his 14^th Masters. His playoff defeat to Bubba Watson in 2012 is still the closest a South African has come to winning the Masters in the last decade. Oosthuizen has had six runners-up finishes in the Majors – two of which came in a strong Major season for him last year where he finished in the top three in three of the four Majors.

Schwartzel is the only one in the group who has pulled on a green jacket in 2011. Bezuidenhout is playing in his third Masters, while Higgo is making his debut and Van Rooyen tees it up in his second Masters but having had to withdraw with an injury after his first round in 2020.

Bezuidenhout played in all four Majors for the first time in his career in 2021, and made the cut in all four which further strengthens the belief that he is the country’s next Major champion in waiting.

Schwartzel’s form may not be near what he would like it to be headed into this Major, but clearly something about Augusta National Golf Club keeps on inspiring him. In the last five editions of The Masters he may well have missed the cut twice, but he’s also finished third, tied 25^th and tied 26^th.

Higgo is playing in only the fourth Major of his career and has Gary Player’s endorsement as a future Major champion, while Van Rooyen missed the cut in all three Majors he qualified for in 2021 but has had a solid start to 2022 with a top-five finish in the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour and tied 13^th in The Players Championship.

 MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – Poland’s Mateusz Gradecki became the first international winner of the Limpopo Championship when he won by three strokes at the Euphoria Golf and Lifestyle Estate on Sunday.

Gradecki closed with a bogey-free 66 that was the lowest round on a difficult day of weather interruptions and rain in the bushveld, and finished on 19 under par overall to break the South African hold on this tournament since it first teed off in 2019.

Gradecki was three strokes clear of the field and standing over his winning five-foot putt on the final green when the hooter sounded for yet another suspension because of dangerous weather. It was the second weather suspension of a tricky day for the field. When play resumed, Gradecki rolled in his final putt for par and victory.

It was an incredible victory for a player who overcame a five-shot deficit at the start of the final round to win, and who had missed the cut in three of his last five tournaments in South Africa.

“I just wanted to keep doing the same things I’d been doing over the previous three rounds,” he said.

“I knew I was playing well and I just needed to keep calm and stay in the moment. I knew my game was good enough to do it. I’m really pleased with the way I played.”

South Africa’s Hennie du Plessis had another good finish as he secured second place on 16 under par with a final round of 70. Germany’s Nick Bachem finished third on 15 under par with a closing 69.

Gradecki’s putting made all the difference for him on the final day as he closed the gap between himself and the overnight leader Oliver Hundebøll from Denmark.

“My putting is the main thing I’ve improved on from the previous weeks. I really didn’t putt well enough in the previous tournaments. My game was good enough, but the putter didn’t behave until today. This win really means a lot to me. I’m over the moon.”

The Limpopo Championship brought to a close this South African Swing on both the Challenge Tour and DP World Tour.

South Africa’s JC Ritchie retained his position at the top of the Road to Mallorca rankings following his two victories on this stretch in the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and the Jonsson Workwear Open.

The Sunshine Tour will close out its current season with the Stella Artois Players Championship at Dainfern Country Club from 21-24 April followed by The Tour Championship at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate from 28 April to 1 May. – Michael Vlismas

 Photo Credit: Heinrich Helmbold /Sunshine Tour

MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – Denmark’s Oliver Hundebøll is hunting his second victory on South African fairways and will take a four-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the Limpopo Championship at the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate.

Hundebøll signed for a third round of 68 to take the lead on 18 under par, with South Africa’s Hennie du Plessis his nearest challenger on 14 under following a 67 on Saturday.

The Danish golfer won last month’s Mangaung Open in Bloemfontein for his first Challenge Tour victory. After a modest start in which he was one over for his round through eight holes, Hundebøll found the inspiration he was looking for with a birdie on the ninth hole. He then birdied four of his first five holes on the back nine.

“I made a good birdie on the ninth and tried to play some good golf on the back nine. I rolled a really good putt in on the 11^th for birdie and then I just kept hitting my approaches close and rolled some putts in,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with this round, especially after my 63 the day before. I just wanted to play my game today and see what happens.”

Hundebøll says he’s taken a lot of confidence from his victory in Bloemfontein.

“After that win it feels much easier to be at the top of the leaderboard and just play my game and not be nervous. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the final round. I’ll just keep focusing on my own game and see what happens.”

Du Plessis finds himself in contention once again in a wonderful run of form for him. In the last two months he’s found himself challenging for DP World Tour and Challenge Tour titles.

Luke Jerling, who also challenged for the Mangaung Open title before losing out to Hundebøll, is in the running again on 13 under par alongside fellow South African Pieter Moolman and Poland’s Mateusz Gradecki.   – Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Heinrich Helmbold /Sunshine Tour

MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – Bryce Easton leads the South African challenge headed into the weekend of the Limpopo Championship at the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate.

Easton signed for a solid 67 in windy conditions at Euphoria on Friday to come through 36 holes of this Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour co-sanctioned tournament on 11 under par.

He is chasing the 14 under par lead of Denmark’s Oliver Hundebøll, who is seeking his second victory in South Africa after winning the Mangaung Open in March and who shot a 63 at the Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, which is the other golf course that hosted the first two rounds of this tournament. Germany’s Nick Bachem is one shot off the lead after a 63 at Koro Creek. The final two rounds will be played solely at Euphoria.

Easton made eight straight pars and then an eagle on the ninth in what he felt was a strong front nine in some tricky conditions on Friday.

“It was very windy and the front nine played quite tricky for me, so I was very happy to get a bunch of pars and then get through that front nine before converting a few chances on the back,” he said.

The back nine saw him birdie three of his first four holes. He bogeyed the 16^th but then took it back with a birdie on 17.

And he’s looking forward to the challenge he knows Euphoria will bring on the weekend.

“This is a big golf course. It’s a beast of a course actually and feels like a long day out there. But it’s also in the best shape that I’ve seen it for many years. The rough is up and if there is even a slight breeze like there was on Friday then it plays really tough. You can’t afford to miss the fairways. It’s a good test.”

Easton is chasing his first victory since 2018 as he juggles his Challenge Tour duties with a few starts on the main DP World Tour as well.

“It’s a long and gruelling season on the Challenge Tour so these opportunities at home are great. I also have some opportunities coming on the main DP World Tour.”

Heinrich Bruiners has also kept himself in the hunt on 10 under par following his 68 at a Euphoria golf course where he won in 2013. – Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Sunshine Tour

MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – Hennie du Plessis has given himself another strong chance at a victory in a Limpopo Championship he seems almost destined to win, having not finished outside the top three in the last three editions.

Du Plessis continued his great form of the past few weeks and opened with a round of seven-under-par 65 at the Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate on Thursday to share a one-stroke lead with Germany’s Freddy Schott, England’s Jonathan Thomson, Spain’s Jordi Garcia, Emilio Cuartero Blanco and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez.

The first two rounds of this Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour co-sanctioned tournament are shared by the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate and Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate courses, with the final two rounds played solely at Euphoria.

Du Plessis showed his comfort at a Koro Creek course he’s played since his junior days, and in a tournament where he finished third in 2019 and 2020 and then lost in a playoff in 2021.

“I’ve had a lot of good finishes in this event so I’m very happy to start well again this year. It was a lot of fun out there. I had some friends and family come and support me. I know both these courses so well and have good memories of both,” said Du Plessis.

His round started with an eagle at the par-five first when he hit a magnificent six iron to within 10 feet and holed the putt, and he never made a single bogey.

“That was a nice eagle to start with and it set the tone for the rest of the day. A bogey-free round is always awesome because it happens so seldom.”

Du Plessis has been in incredible form and has been pushing hard for a victory on the international stage to add to his 2017 Sunshine Tour triumph in the Vodacom Origins of Golf in Sishen.

Last year he finished seventh in the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Joburg Open and third in the South African Open. And he against came close to a maiden DP World Tour victory as he challenged for the MyGolfLife Open at Pecanwood last month before finishing sixth there.

“I’m playing good golf and I’m just going to stick to my process and keep focused on that,” he said.

Fellow South African Heinrich Bruiners also made a good start with his 66 at Koro Creek to place him just one shot behind the leaders and he’ll look forward to the next three rounds on a Euphoria golf course where he won the 2013 Vodacom Origins of Golf. – Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Heinrich Helmbold /Sunshine Tour

JC Ritchie

Best finish in 2022: Two victories – Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and Jonsson Workwear Open

Ritchie is one of the in-form players of 2022. The 28-year-old claimed back-to-back wins this year at the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and the Jonsson Workwear Open. The Standerton-born player has a further two top tens and is the current leader on the Challenge Tour’s Road the Mallorca. A win this week will guarantee him a place on the DP World Tour for the 2023 season.

Clement Sordet

Best finish in 2022:  1^st SDC Open

Sordet secured victory at last week’s SDC Open, the most recent event co-sanctioned between the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour. The Frenchman, who has adapted successfully to the bushveld courses, will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in the Waterberg region at the Limpopo Championship.

Jaco Prinsloo

Best finish in 2022 – 4^th Jonsson Workwear Open

The 32-year-old will be familiar with the playing conditions having played out of Koro Creek, one of the venues for the first two days of the Limpopo Championship. Prinsloo has two wins to his name this season which came at the Players Championship and Serengeti Pro-Am Invitational back in March 2021.

Alexander Knappe

Best finish in 2022 – 1^st Dimension Data Pro-Am

The German is currently second on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca standings. The 33-year-old will be looking for a return to the form that won him his third Challenge Tour title after his play-off victory at the Dimension Data Pro-Am in Fancourt earlier this year.

Keenan Davidse

Best finish in 2022 – 4^th Jonsson Workwear Open

Ahead of the SDC Open in Limpopo last week, Davidse had made six consecutive cuts and will be looking to improve on his best finish of fourth so far in 2022. The South African golfer has taken up Challenge Tour membership this year and a win in Limpopo will see him improve on his current 12^th place on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca standings and bring him one step close to earning a DP World Tour card.

MOOKGOPHONG, Limpopo – JC Ritchie will be looking for his third victory in the four-year history of the Limpopo Championship as the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour remain in the province this week and with a strong field assembled for the challenge at both the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate and Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate.

Every single one of the top 20 players on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca will tee it up in the $250 000 Limpopo Championship as they seek to retain their positions within that group that at the end of the season will gain promotion to the DP World Tour.

And they will be led number one JC Ritchie.

Ritchie is back in a part of the golf world he loves. He won this title in 2019 and 2020 and is once again in top form coming into this week. He’s ranked first on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca rankings and is seeking a third victory on the Challenge Tour this year following his back-to-back wins in the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and the Jonsson Workwear Open.

Frenchman Clement Sordet is also fast developing a love for Limpopo. He won last week’s SDC Open hosted by Zebula Golf Estate and Spa for the fifth Challenge Tour victory of his career, and he returns to a Limpopo Championship where he finished tied 16^th in 2020.

“It’s been great to play in these seven events on the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour and get a win so early in the season. I like the Euphoria golf course and I’m looking forward to it,” said Sordet.

The international field sees the return of Northern Ireland star Tom McKibbin who had top-10s in both the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open and Jonsson Workwear Open.

South Africa’s Ruan Conradie, who lost in a playoff to Sordet at Zebula, will take another shot at glory this week.

Wilco Nienaber bolsters this field as he returns to a tournament where he finished second to Ritchie in 2020. He is also in good form at the moment following finishes of tied 10^th and tied 12^th in his last two DP World Tour appearances.

Hennie du Plessis is also back to see if he can go one better than his playoff defeat last year. Du Plessis featured in the four-man playoff that Brandon Stone eventually won. But he returns this year far more experienced and having challenged for the recent MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood on the DP World Tour before finishing tied sixth there.

The Limpopo Championship tees off on Thursday at both the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate and Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate for the first two rounds, and then solely at Euphoria for the final two rounds.

BELA BELA, Limpopo – Frenchman Clement Sordet birdied the first playoff hole to beat South Africa’s Ruan Conradie and claim the SDC Open hosted by Zebula Golf Estate and Spa on Sunday.

Sordet, who closed with a 67, and Conradie, who signed off with a 68, finished tied for the lead on 21 under par at the end of a thrilling final round in which the leaderboard changed several times.

Overnight leader Deon Germishuys held the lead over the turn and then relinquished it. England’s Marco Penge also had a share of the lead at one point. Conradie then had his turn to take control of the tournament. And Sordet hit the front before both he and Conradie were the last two left standing after 72 holes.

Playing the par-five 18^th in the playoff, Sordet had exactly the same putt which he missed to win the title in regulation play, and this time made no mistake.

“It is really special. The past few years have been tough and it’s really nice to get a win here in South Africa,” said Sordet, who claimed his fifth Challenge Tour victory and his first win on the Sunshine Tour with this title.

“I felt pretty good for the playoff. I was playing well all day. I hit a good drive and had a chance to go for the green. Ruan laid up and I hit a three iron onto the green, and two-putted for the win. It was exactly the same putt which I missed in regulation play, so I knew the line.”

Sordet enjoyed the full African bushveld experience as he posed with his trophy against the backdrop of the local Zebula elephants on the 18^th fairway.

“I’ve spent four weeks in different parts of South Africa. I love it. The wildlife is amazing,” he said.

Conradie took second place while fellow South African Deon Germishuys finished third on 20 under par.

The Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour remain in Limpopo for this week’s Limpopo Championship. -Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

BELA BELA, Limpopo – Deon Germishuys produced a putting display that left his playing partners in awe and which even he struggled to explain as he signed for a 63 to give himself a two-stroke lead going into Sunday’s final round of the SDC Open hosted by the Zebula Golf Estate and Spa.

Germishuys rolled in his final birdie on the 18^thagainst the backdrop of a magnificent bushveld sunset, and at the end of a long day that for some began as early as a 3:30am wake-up call to complete the weather-affected second round at the nearby Elements Private Golf Reserve and then move straight into the third round at Zebula.

With a round of seven birdies and an eagle the young professional climbed to the top of the leaderboard on 19 under par and is two strokes clear of England’s Marco Penge – playing his first competitive round after being out for seven months following knee surgery – and fellow South African Ruan Conradie.

Germishuys is chasing his maiden professional title, and he created that opportunity for himself with a magnificent putting performance.

“I can’t put it into words. My putter has just been working so well this week. Every putt I looked at went in. You just get days like that, and I hope it can continue on the final day,” said Germishuys.

“It was good fun out there. I was playing good golf, the adrenalin was pumping, and I made a couple of long putts. I’ve been struggling a bit with my putter the last couple of weeks and it just got hot the last three days. My putting was definitely the best part of my game.”

After a stellar amateur career, Germishuys has had moments where he’s threatened to break through on the Sunshine Tour with nine top-10s and even a second place in the 2019 Vodacom Origins of Golf in Stellenbosch.

But in this kind of form, he’ll definitely feel this represents a golden opportunity in a tournament co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour, and with the international doors that could open for his career.

“I’m excited. I’ve been in this situation once or twice before so I’m hoping to grab this one. I’ve been playing good golf so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. I won’t put too much pressure on myself. I’m still going to play the way I’ve played and stick to my routine.”

Part of his routine which has worked so well for him this week is a bit of afternoon fishing.

“I’ve been sharing with Clinton Grobler this week and every afternoon it’s the same, he changes into shorts and goes fishing at a nearby pond. I think that’s helped me to relax as well.”

And now it’s time for Germishuys to possibly land the big one himself. – Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

BELA BELA, Limpopo – Jake Redman looked nothing but a picture of absolute calm as he overcame both a double-bogey start and the dark storm clouds swirling above him to play himself to within one shot of the lead in Friday’s incomplete second round of the SDC Open hosted by Zebula Golf Estate and Spa.

Redman signed for a 67 to make it safely into the clubhouse on 11 under par, with Germany’s Freddy Schott leading the field on 12 under following his round of 64 at the Elements Private Golf Reserve, the other course hosting the first two rounds of this tournament. Frenchman Clement Sordet is on 11 under for the tournament having played only six holes of his second round at Elements.

The weather affected play at both courses on Friday. The field at Elements had to contend with three suspensions of play, while at Zebula they managed to continue until a suspension had to be called for dangerous weather late in the afternoon.

As a result, the second round will have to be completed on Saturday morning before the start of the third round.

But Redman was smiling broadly at being able to complete his round, and to be well in contention despite the start he endured.

“I had a shocking lie in the rough on the first hole. Then after that I thinned it over the green with my bunker shot. So it was a long six on the first hole of the day. You’ve just got to put it behind you and start all over again. I was happy that my game was there to be able to do that. I made important putts that were key to keeping the momentum going and the birdies ticking over,” he said of the next eight birdies, and with only one bogey in there as well.

“I came into this tournament with the thought of taking it one step at a time, and I’ll keep doing that on the weekend.”

The leader Schott had an early start on Friday morning, and made the most of it. “It was great. Waking up at 4:30am was definitely worth it. My driving is carrying me through the whole round at the moment. But you also can’t shoot 64 without putting well, and that was a good part of my game as well. I had two weeks off now and spent some time in Cape Town and it’s turned out nicely for me. So now I just want to get out there and be competitive on the weekend, and see where it all goes.”

South Africans MJ Viljoen, Daniel van Tonder and Deon Germishuys are all well placed on 10 under par alongside Australian Deyen Lawson. – Michael Vlismas

Photo Credit: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour