Category: Featured News

KNYSNA, Western Cape – It’s rare that two brothers find themselves as winners on the Sunshine Tour in the same season. But that was the case this year for the Loubser brothers – albeit in different areas of the game.

In August, Herman Loubser won the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Parys Golf & Country Estate. Then in November, younger brother Conrad Loubser caddied for Casey Jarvis when he won The Hyundai Open at the Ebotse Links.

And both brothers are in action again this week in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Pezula Golf Estate.

“Conrad was a very good junior golfer and won a few tournaments. Then he caddied for me for a while on the Sunshine Tour and on the HotelPlanner Tour,” the 26-year-old Herman Loubser said of his 20-year-old brother.

“It was the beginning of his caddie career, and I was quite hard on him. After all, he’s my younger brother. Then he also caddied for Kyle Barker and Jason Roets, and he learnt a lot there. He’s now a very good caddie.”

It was then that Casey Jarvis came knocking.

“Casey and I are good friends, and when Casey split with his old caddie he asked me about having Conrad caddie for him, and I said he wouldn’t go wrong. It seems to be working well for them with Casey’s recent win.”

Is there a chance the two brothers could join forces on the fairways again?

“He’s made this his career. If I’m in a position where I’m doing well in the future, maybe he’ll caddie for me. But then again, he might be overseas caddying in Majors. I can’t imagine he’d want to give that up to caddie for his older brother again.” – Michael Vlismas

KNYSNA, Western Cape – As the Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins of Golf series prepares for its season final at the Pezula Golf Estate this week, there may well be a sense in Karabo Mokoena’s mind that he’s only now getting started with his season.

The final of this celebrated series will be played from Thursday to Sunday this week on the same golf course where it first teed off in 2004.

It’s a series that has opened doors for some of the biggest names on the Sunshine Tour, who’ve used their victories here to, in some cases, go on and win DP World Tour title and even a Major.

This week, Mokoena is quietly optimistic that it may be equally positive in his own career, which this year has shown encouraging signs.

“Just having the opportunity to play here and prove it again is a privilege. I’m just focused on earning the opportunity to be here, and nothing more,” he said on Tuesday.

It’s been a solid last few weeks for Mokoena including finishes of tied 18^th in the Limpopo Championship and tied 15^th in the recent Stella Artois Players Championship where he led the first round with a sublime 62.

He’s currently ranked 92^nd on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit as he looks to retain his playing privileges for next season, and he has a goal of a place inside the top 70 by the end of the season.

“I’m just marking down my goals. I’ve been on Tour for four years now and confidence can be detrimental. One week you have a top five and the next week you don’t know where your swing is. So I just want to put in place the things I still want to achieve and keep my focus on that, not the feeling of confidence,” he said.

Even his own assessment of what has changed in his game this year elicits an answer that shows how much Mokoena doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself based on his recent results.

“I don’t feel like anything has changed. I’ve been playing the same but I wasn’t getting the results until now. I have become stronger and am hitting the ball further. But I just think it’s a bit of luck going my way. I still feel like that if this version of me played against myself three years ago, that guy from three years ago would win if he could putt better. I even feel like I was fitter back then. But when the putts go in it makes a difference. That’s the case now. I also feel like I have a more relaxed mindset now.” – Michael Vlismas

• Marco Penge is second highest-ranked player in the field

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

• Tickets and hospitality now on sale HERE.

Marco Penge, the only three-time winner on the DP World Tour in the 2025 season, has added his name to the field for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, with the Englishman set to make his debut in “Africa’s Major” at the end of his breakthrough year.

With his three wins in China, Denmark and Spain, Penge finished the season in second place on the Race to Dubai Rankings, 30^th on the Official World Golf Ranking, and earned dual membership on the PGA TOUR.

He heads to Sun City as the 2026 season gets up and running as the next highest-ranked player in the field after Norwegian Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland, who is also making his debut at Sun City.

It’s apt that he returns to South African fairways where his incredible year began when he finished third in the Investec South African Open in March.

Penge said: “I love playing in South Africa and I’m really looking forward to ending an amazing year by making my debut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.”

“It’s an event I’ve heard a lot about, in terms of the course, the fact that it is played in honour of Mr Player, and everything else that goes into the week, so I’m sure it will be a great experience and the perfect way to help get my 2026 season up and running.”

It’s been a remarkable year for Penge who claimed his maiden DP World Tour victory in April’s Hainan Classic and then added the Danish Golf Championship and the Open de España in a six-month stretch that has transformed his career.

This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will also showcase an even greater fan hospitality experience.

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

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

RANDBURG, Johannesburg – JC Ritchie continued his rich vein of form by winning the Stella Artois Players Championship on the Sunshine Tour by two shots on 17 under par, after a marathon day at Randpark Golf Club on Saturday.

In order to avoid the predicted adverse weather on Sunday, it was decided to play both the third and fourth rounds in a single day on Saturday which led to a marathon of 36 holes for the Sunshine Tour professionals.

Ritchie finished the third round tied for the lead with Bryce Easton on 15 under par following his round of 65 and Easton’s incredible 63.

And then Ritchie added a final round of 69 to claim victory in what has been an incredible season for him. He won three times on the HotelPlanner Tour this season on his way to taking the overall Road to Mallorca rankings.

But this win was especially sweet as it was his first on home fairways since 2022.

“It’s been a while, especially back home. I’ve been winning elsewhere, so it’s really good to be taking a trophy home again,” he said.

“It was really tough because 36 holes for us is unlikely as we don’t normally do that. I had to do a lot of mental preparation yesterday – plenty of food and fluids and just try and stay calm with the rain and bad weather. The second 18 was really brutal – it was tougher than what most people think.”

Christiaan Burke (67) and Oliver Bekker (70) shared second place on 15 under par.

Hennie die Plessis continued his impressive return from injury and finished tied fourth on 14 under par after claiming a victory in his first tournament back a few weeks ago. – Michael Vlismas Media

RANDBURG, Johannesburg – Deon Germishuys will take a one-shot lead into a Saturday at the Stella Artois Players Championship at Randpark Golf Club that will test the resolve of every professional in the field.

Germishuys signed for a 66 on Friday to lead on 12 under par, despite a double-bogey on his card.

His nearest challenger is Karabo Mokoena who posted a 69 to end the day on 11 under. Oliver Bekker and Pieter Moolman are both well-placed on 10 under par following respective second rounds of 65.

But with adverse weather predicted for the Sunday of this 72-hole tournament, officials have decided to play both the third and fourth rounds on Saturday.

“We’re playing 36 holes on Saturday due to the expected bad weather, so it’s going to be a long day. But I’m excited. It’s nice to be in this position and give myself an opportunity again. My game is starting to feel better, and I’m just going to go out and enjoy it and try to play the best golf I can,” Germishuys said.

Germishuys has putted well for the first two rounds as he now looks to add to his two victories on the Sunshine Tour.

“I’ve played really well the first two rounds. I drove the ball well, my iron play was decent and I managed to roll in some long-distance putts. It’s nice to see the putter getting hot and the ball going into the hole,” he said.

Mokoena led the first round and kept himself in contention with a solid second round in which he dropped only one shot. – Michael Vlismas Media

Namola, South Africa’s most trusted safety app, has announced a new partnership with the Sunshine Tour that will give the Tour’s professionals immediate emergency response anywhere in the country as they travel from tournament to tournament.
 
With over 650 000 Namola users nationwide and a vast emergency response network, proven to reach users significantly faster than traditional public services, this partnership gives Sunshine Tour professionals complete peace of mind off the fairways.
 
“We’re proud to partner with the Sunshine Tour to help keep the players and their loved ones safe, wherever the game takes them. Namola gives instant access to private emergency response for medical and security anywhere in South Africa. It’s about giving people peace of mind knowing that help is always close by,” said Jessica Harris, CMO of Namola.
 
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said the Namola partnership is a valuable one that ensures the safety of the professionals as they compete weekly around the country.
 
“We have a full tournament schedule that sees our professionals traveling around South Africa and often at irregular times. So to have 24/7 access to immediate emergency response such as that provided by Namola really gives not just our professionals and their families the peace of mind they need, but also us as a Tour to know they are in safe hands as they chase greatness on our fairways.”

RANDBURG, Johannesburg – Karabo Mokoena was so focused during his 62 in Thursday’s opening round of the Stella Artois Players Championship at Randpark Golf Club that it took some time for his incredible performance to sink in.

Mokoena’s round of eight birdies, an eagle and one bogey earned him a two-stroke lead over a group of five players.

“I’m only realising now that it was a good round. I checked the leaderboard and no one has managed to match the score, so I am really chuffed with that,” said Mokoena.

“My round was good. I didn’t have a chance to have fun, as the nerves were sky-high during the first round. I was just trying to stay in the moment and not rush anything, taking it a shot at a time.”

Mokoena believes his game is steadily improving and is hoping to build on this first round.

“I am definitely more certain with my decision making. I’ve made four out of five cuts during my last five tournaments, so the game is moving in the right direction. I am pleased with my position, hopefully I keep it going and improve my ranking. A good week will help me to get into a better position to be selected for the bigger tournaments,” Mokoena added.

The group of five players on seven under includes South Africans Ethan Smith, Nikhil Rama, Deon Germishuys and Jordan Burnand as well as Zimbabwe’s Stuart Krog.

Rama is also in good form at the moment after finishing fourth in last week’s Hyundai Open. – Michael Vlismas Media

Dean Burmester will return to South African fairways in December in search of the one title he still desperately wants to win – the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Tickets now on sale here: 2025 Alfred Dunhill Championship

Burmester has won every one of the current Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournaments in South Africa, except for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and he will compete at Royal Johannesburg from 11-14 December with a firm goal to win and complete his own co-sanctioned sweep of victories.

As the Alfred Dunhill Championship returns to Johannesburg where it was first played from 2000 to 2004, the tournament has drawn a field deep in talent with former champions and rising stars.

Burmester forms part of a strong South African challenge taking part on Royal Johannesburg’s famed East Course.

Shaun Norris, Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Ockie Strydom have all confirmed their places in this year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship as past winners of the tournament. Norris is looking to become only the third player in Alfred Dunhill Championship history to successfully defend his title.

Aldrich Potgieter adds to the South African challenge as the country’s latest star, having secured his maiden victory on the PGA TOUR this season.

The 2025 field will also include the best of South African amateur golf.

Both Christiaan Maas and Daniel Bennett will head to Royal Johannesburg having made history this year as members of the South African team that claimed the country’s first ever victory in the prestigious Eisenhower Trophy.

Maas added to this triumph as he also went on to become the first South African winner of the individual title.

The Alfred Dunhill Championship forms part of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing for its 2026 season.

The change in tournament venue is for this year only to allow the championship’s traditional home, Leopard Creek, a period of recovery following its hosting of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship and The R&A Africa Amateur Championship in a short space of time over the intensely hot summer months.

RANDBURG, Johannesburg – When Heinrich Bruiners sees his name on the Stella Artois Players Championship trophy as the defending champion at Randpark Golf Club this week, it’s going to remind him of something he’s spent the past year and seven months trying to rediscover.

Bruiners’ victory in this event last year when it was played at Dainfern was the second of his Sunshine Tour career, but his first over 72 holes. That alone was a huge mental breakthrough for him – to know he has what it takes to win a 72-hole tournament.

But it sparked a desire in him to seek even more improvement in his game. And with it, Bruiners says he took his eye off the most important element of his own game.

“I reached such a high when I won this tournament last year. But then I got a bit lost in my search for improvement. I’ve gone through so many changes. I changed the way I played to match the equipment that I wanted to use, whereas now I’m getting back to what I do naturally and the equipment that suits me. Whenever I’ve played my best has been when I’ve felt like I’m expressing who I am through my golf,” Bruiners said ahead of Thursday’s first round.

“I’m actually trying to work my way back to what I was using equipment wise and doing before. I think I just need to get back to what’s familiar for me. It’s so competitive out here and everybody else is getting better. I just need to find my way back to what I know is right for me.”

And that’s why Bruiners feels this week and the good memories it will bring back is so important to him. – Michael Vlismas

BENONI, Gauteng – Casey Jarvis won his maiden Sunshine Tour title in The Hyundai Open at the Ebotse Links on Sunday, and after beating close friend Ryan van Velzen on a tough final day.

“Winning is not easy and Ryan didn’t make it very easy for me. It’s hard beating a friend, and he’s a close friend of mine. But I am very happy with my win today” said Jarvis, who closed with a 68 to win on 23 under par.

His caddie, Conrad Loubser, earned the winning caddie medallion.

Van Velzen finished second on 22 under par following a strong closing stretch in which he birdied two of his last three holes, but missed a birdie opportunity on the 18^th to tie the lead, with Jarvis having to make par for the victory.

“I was a bit nervous with that final putt – I won’t lie. I’ve had a few second places on tour, so to finally get it done is unbelievable,” said a delighted Jarvis.

Sunshine Tour rookie Warwick Purchase continued with his good form and finished third on 20 under par with a closing 68. This performance not only kept him in the running for the Fortress Rookie of the Year title in second place, but also moved him into eighth place on the Courier Guy Order of Merit.

Jean Hugo won a brand-new Hyundai Exeter after he finished closest to the pin on the par-three 11^th hole, just 74cm from the flagstick.

“That shot was a bit nerve-wracking, but I managed to pull it in there quite close, so I’m very happy,” said Hugo. – Michael Vlismas Media