Category: Featured News

Robin Williams and Aldrich Potgieter, two of South African golf’s brightest young stars, will test themselves against a strong international field for the Nedbank Golf Challenge as they tee off in this DP World Tour event at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, with tickets and exciting luxury public hospitality options available to buy here…, or to book at [email protected].
 
The 23-year-old Williams, who was given a personal invitation to compete by Gary Player in whose honour the Nedbank Golf Challenge is played, and 20-year-old Potgieter will form part of a showcase of Sunshine Tour talent on the fairways of the Gary Player Country Club.
 
They join Ryan van Velzen, the winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy for the 2023/24 season, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen as amongst the South Africans already confirmed for ‘Africa’s Major’.
 
The two young South Africans will go up against defending champion and six-time PGA TOUR winner Max Homa as well as fellow PGA TOUR champions Will Zalatoris and Corey Conners, DP World Tour stars Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, and victorious European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.
 
Both Williams and Potgieter will be making their debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and at a watershed moment in both of their careers.
 
Williams secured himself a DP World Tour card by virtue of his second place finish on the 2023/24 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy and was also the Sunshine Tour’s Fortress Rookie of the Year last season. He built on that success this year and caught world golf’s attention with a finish of tied fourth on his debut in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. He then returned home to the Sunshine Tour and successfully defended his Fortress Invitational title.
 
Potgieter heads to Sun City as the youngest champion in Korn Ferry Tour history after winning the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at the age of 19 years, four months and 11 days earlier this year. Potgieter also became the second youngest Korn Ferry Tour graduate ever to earn a PGA Tour card for next season.
 
Both Williams and Potgieter will lead the charge of a new generation of South Africans seeking to make their mark in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which has seen memorable victories by fellow South Africans Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Branden Grace, Fulton Allem and David Frost as well as Zimbabweans Nick Price and Mark McNulty.
 
The quality of this year’s field will be matched by a world-class hospitality offering for fans, including the new Hospitali-TEE Lounge and the premium Hospitali-TEE on 18^th.
 
The new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge is aimed at elevating the normal day visitor experience with a brand new hospitality lounge located close to the Public Village and offering an air-conditioned facility with indoor and outdoor seating, a live feed of the golf, and catering throughout the day. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation for exclusive access to the Hospitali-TEE Lounge, a premium buffet including breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, a fully stocked open bar, an all-day coffee station, a live television feed of the golf, daily live entertainment, a daily player autograph opportunity, a sunscreen station, daily prizes and competitions, and official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise. To book click here…
 
The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th offers prime Nedbank Golf Challenge viewing in an air-conditioned luxury suite overlooking the 18^th green with under cover terrace. Fans will be able to enjoy an upmarket food experience, a premium tournament beverage bar, and live TV feed of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. It’s premier location also allows fans to enjoy the nearby ‘Africa’s Mini Major’ putt-putt tournament, visit the Merchandising Marquee or follow a favourite golfer around the course. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation to enter ‘The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th’, a premium buffet offering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks within the facility, a fully-stocked premium open bar, an all-day coffee station, live TV feed of daily play, daily player autograph opportunity, sunscreen station, a limited edition VIP packaged magnum wine (1.5l), an official branded Nedbank Golf Challenge golf shirt and cap, and a Buffalo Trace Bourbon whiskey tasting. There is also the opportunity to purchase additional package add-ons that include access to the official Welcome Dinner and the Beach Party, as well as golf at the Lost City Golf Course. To book please email [email protected]
 

Former Major champion Louis Oosthuizen will seek to become only the third player in the history of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to successfully defend his title when he returns to Leopard Creek from 12-15 December.

Oosthuizen has confirmed his place in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament and adds to a strong South African challenge that also includes Thriston Lawrence, currently South Africa’s highest ranked golfer on the Official World Golf Ranking in 50^th place.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, winner of the 2020 Alfred Dunhill Championship, as well as Erik van Rooyen and Dean Burmester will also be in the field at Leopard Creek.

Oosthuizen won last year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship by two strokes following a thrilling final round duel with Charl Schwartzel.

He returns this December looking to join Schwartzel and Spain’s Pablo Martin as the only golfers in history to successful defend their titles. Schwartzel achieved this feat in 2012 and 2013, while Martin did the same in 2009 and 2010.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Leopard Creek for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, which is one of the most special weeks in golf. I have always loved the golf course, and after twice finishing runner-up in the tournament I was delighted to win last year,” said Oosthuizen.

“The Alfred Dunhill Championship is one of those tournaments I always wanted to win, and to finally do so was very special. It’s a tournament I never want to miss, especially at this point in my career, because it combines my love for Leopard Creek and my love for the bush and the spectacular wildlife we are privileged to enjoy that week.”

Lawrence will be back in South Africa having achieved his best finish in a Major of fourth at The Open this year, and also currently second on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings.

Bezuidenhout and Van Rooyen head to Leopard Creek having represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Paris this year, while Bezuidenhout was also a member of the International Team in The Presidents Cup.

The South African golfers’ love for this tournament is evident in their impressive record here.

South Africans have dominated the last three editions of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, with Oosthuizen, Ockie Strydom (2022) and Bezuidenhout (2020) claiming glory.

Charl Schwartzel still holds the record for the most Alfred Dunhill Championship titles with his four victories, as well as the tournament record of 24 under par 264 and the largest margin of victory of 12 strokes which he achieved in 2012.

This year’s tournament will once again showcase the work of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) as the young golfers from the Mpumalanga Chapter are treated to a golf clinic with the stars of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour.

Tickets for the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship are available for purchase here.

The Sunshine Tour will end its year with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, a tournament that has had three South African champions in its seven editions to date. But when it comes to the best South African professional never to have won the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, then Oliver Bekker stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

Tickets are available here through the official ticketing partner ticketbox.mu.

Bekker will head to Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December, hoping to earn what would be a well-deserved victory in a Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event where he has a phenomenal record of consistency.
 
The South African has played every single edition of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and has on only two occasions not managed to finish inside the top 10.
 
His record in this tournament includes finishes of eighth, 18^th, ninth, seventh, ninth, seventh and 34^th.
 
“I generally play well in Mauritius. It’s a place where I feel very comfortable playing. It’s nice to be able to relax after a long year, come off the course and go to the beach and forget about golf for a while and recharge,” says Bekker.
 
He’ll be relishing a return to Mont Choisy Le Golf in particular where he finished seventh behind winner Antoine Rozner of France in 2022.
 
That year Bekker opened with a 64 to place him only two shots off the first-round lead. He was one shot off the lead going into the weekend, and then just three shots behind Rozner going into the final round.
 
“Mont Choisy Le Golf is the kind of golf course where you can make quite a few birdies. We’ve seen 62s and 64s there before. The golf course almost has a links feel to it, with no trees and a lot of run-offs and hills and bumps and things. Your short game is very important there. But it’s a good fun week where the weather is the main contributor to the scoring,” he says.
 
The South African record in this tournament includes winners George Coetzee, Dylan Frittelli and Louis Oosthuizen, while there are a number of other South Africans with impressive records in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open but who have yet to lift this trophy.
 
Thomas Aiken has had finishes of fourth and seventh in this event. Brandon Stone’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open journey has been highlighted by top finishes of sixth, 13^th and 11^th. Louis de Jager has had two fourth-place finishes in Mauritius. And Jayden Schaper has finished ninth and sixth here.
 
But Bekker’s record stands above them all as possibly the one South African who deserves to add his name to this trophy.
 
The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the Mont Choisy Group, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), the Economic Development Board (EDB) Mauritius, Rogers, IBL, Emtel, Heritage Resorts, Mastercard, Poncini, Range Rover, the Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, Kohler, ticketbox.mu, DStv, Air Mauritius, C-Care, Mautourco, Häagen-Dazs, Ernie Els Wines, London No.1 Gin, Famous Grouse, Oaks and Ames, Graham Beck, Miko Coffee, TCL, CBE and SMAG.

Victorious European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has added his name to a stellar field of international stars for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, with tickets and exciting luxury public hospitality options available to buy here…, or to book at [email protected].

The 46-year-old joins defending champion Max Homa, PGA Tour winners Will Zalatoris and Corey Conners, DP World Tour stars Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, and South African Olympic duo Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen in this DP World Tour field for ‘Africa’s Major’, played in honour of Gary Player and in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International.

Donald will make his ninth appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and returns to Sun City having successfully led Europe to a 16½ – 11½ victory against the United States in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy.

The Englishman has been named as Europe’s captain once again for the 2025 Ryder Cup in America, becoming Europe’s first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher in the Nineties.

The former World Number One has a top finish of third in the 2014 Nedbank Golf Challenge. But in his last appearance in 2022 Donald opened with a 65 and was just one shot off the first round lead, and went into the weekend tied for the lead on his way to an overall finish of tied 13^th.

The quality of this year’s field will be matched by a world-class hospitality offering for fans, including the new Hospitali-TEE Lounge and the premium Hospitali-TEE on 18^th.

The new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge is aimed at elevating the normal day visitor experience with a brand new hospitality lounge located close to the Public Village and offering an air-conditioned facility with indoor and outdoor seating, a live feed of the golf, and catering throughout the day. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation for exclusive access to the Hospitali-TEE Lounge, a premium buffet including breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, a fully stocked open bar, an all-day coffee station, a live television feed of the golf, daily live entertainment, a daily player autograph opportunity, a sunscreen station, daily prizes and competitions, and official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise. To book click here…

The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th offers prime Nedbank Golf Challenge viewing in an air-conditioned luxury suite overlooking the 18^th green with under cover terrace. Fans will be able to enjoy an upmarket food experience, a premium tournament beverage bar, and live TV feed of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. It’s premier location also allows fans to enjoy the nearby ‘Africa’s Mini Major’ putt-putt tournament, visit the Merchandising Marquee or follow a favourite golfer around the course. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation to enter ‘The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th’, a premium buffet offering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks within the facility, a fully-stocked premium open bar, an all-day coffee station, live TV feed of daily play, daily player autograph opportunity, sunscreen station, a limited edition VIP packaged magnum wine (1.5l), an official branded Nedbank Golf Challenge golf shirt and cap, and a Buffalo Trace Bourbon whiskey tasting. There is also the opportunity to purchase additional package add-ons that include access to the official Welcome Dinner and the Beach Party, as well as golf at the Lost City Golf Course.

To book please email [email protected]

EDENVALE, Gauteng – Other than an approaching thunderstorm, defending champion Robin Williams had little to worry about in the final round of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday, cruising to a three-stroke victory as he shot a five-under 67 to finish on 22-under-par.

Williams showed great focus and composure with a classy round which was faultless until the last hole, when a sudden gust of wind just before the storm broke led to a bogey five. The 23-year-old had all but ensured victory, however, with his fifth birdie by the par-five 11^th hole, and he added a sixth on the next par-five, the 17^th. The big-hitting Williams once again took advantage of the par-fives, birdieing all four of them on Sunday.

“It means everything to defend such an unbelievable tournament. I just tried to focus on what worked last year and I didn’t think too much about the leaderboard. I set a target in my head and I knew if I got to 22-under then I would be difficult to catch. If someone did overtake me, then fair play to them,” Williams said.

“So I tried to get there as quickly as possible and then just hold on. I was a nervous wreck at the start, but I just kept telling myself that I was in the exact same position as last year and I just tried to build on those memories. I just had to grind and limit the bogeys, and I’m very proud I managed it even though it got very windy.

“It’s been an incredible year, I’m still trying to piece together what happened and my game is completely different to last year, I have improved so much. Hopefully I keep improving and can carry that through to a full schedule in Europe next year,” Williams said.

There was an air of inevitability about Williams’ triumph, even though Daniel van Tonder, who has twice come from behind to win this season, shot a 67 as well, birdieing the last two holes to finish on 19-under-par.

Yurav Premlall (68) and Keenan Davidse (70) shared third place on 15-under-par, while Jonathan Broomhead (68), Jovan Rebula (72) and Kyle Barker (72) were fifth on 13-under. Herman Loubser soared up the leaderboard into a share of eighth with his seven-under 65, joining Werner Deyzel (69) and Altin van der Merwe (74) on 12-under-par.

Rookie Van der Merwe was tied for second at the start of the final round, as was Kyle de Beer, whose challenge was ended by three successive bogeys from the third hole, as he shot a 75 to finish on 11-under-par.

EDENVALE, Gauteng – Defending champion Robin Williams collected two eagles on Saturday, the first of them a pivotal moment as he came back from a tough start, on his way to a two-under-par 70 which stretched his lead to three strokes after the third round of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club.

Williams began the day with a one-stroke lead but he quickly fell from his pedestal after a double-bogey six and a bogey five on the first two holes. But he fought back superbly, holing a great eagle putt on the 500-metre par-five sixth. A birdie on the par-four seventh meant he was back on par, and another eagle, on the 509-metre par-five 11^th, put him back on the top of the leaderboard. A massive drive, 350 metres into the wind, was followed by a mediocre approach, but Williams then chipped in his third. After that he parred his way home.

“I really wasn’t good this morning and got off to a really bad start. It was chaos, a super-scrappy first two holes and then I had to make a six-footer for par on the third. But I said to my cousin [caddie Damian Williams] that we had been in this situation lots of times before and we just needed to keep our heads down and weather the storm. We just had to keep it together and try and get the pars going,” Williams said.

“The eagle on six was massive. It was a 25-foot big, old, swinging putt and I needed that kickstart after the rough beginning. If you had told me on the third tee that I would finish level-par after the front nine, I would have jumped on it. I’m very happy with the turnaround and I’ve put myself in a position to win.

“I surprised myself with how far my drive went on 11, maybe it hit a sprinklerhead. I was disappointed with my second because it was such a massive drive and I had only a nine-iron in. Fortunately the ball was sitting up though and I just tried to get the chip close, luckily it went in. It’s been so hot and it’s at altitude, so I really wanted to take advantage of the par-fives. I treated them as par-fours and if I can do the same tomorrow then I’ll be in good shape.

“But there is still a lot of golf out there tomorrow, lots of guys trying to hunt me down. I was in a similar position last year and I know it’s going to be nervous, stressful and not fun. But I’ll just try and enjoy it and play with a smile on my face. I’ve already done myself proud,” Williams said.

Kyle de Beer, the leader on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings, had his fill of birdies on the back nine as he came home in 31 to sign for a 66 and tied-second on 14-under-par.

Altin van der Merwe is third on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings and he joined De Beer in second after making birdie on the 18^th for a two-under 70.

Daniel van Tonder was one behind Williams at the start of the third round, but he had trouble with the fourth and fifth holes, making bogey at both. He made birdies at the sixth and 17^th holes, finishing level-par and staying second on 14-under.

First round leader Kyle Barker (68), Keenan Davidse (69) and Jovan Rebula (71) will tee it off on Sunday on 13-under-par, four behind Williams, who will bid to become the first golfer to defend a title on the Sunshine Tour since George Coetzee successfully defended the Vodacom Origins of Golf De Zalze in August 2022.

EDENVALE, Gauteng – Defending champion Robin Williams said an outstanding start and playing in the same threeball as a charging Daniel van Tonder were pivotal to his 65 on Friday, which gave him the lead after the second round of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club.

Williams backed up his excellent 64 on the first day with a seven-under-par round that lifted him to 15-under-par at the halfway stage of the R2 million event, with Van Tonder firing a fabulous nine-under 63 on Friday to sit just one stroke behind on 14-under-par.

Altin van der Merwe (67) and Jovan Rebula (66) are a further two strokes behind, while first-round leader Kyle Barker is on nine-under, six behind, after a level-par 72 on Friday.

Williams made three birdies in the first four holes, and reached the turn in five-under, but as most of the field found, the back nine was more testing and he came home in two-under, including a bogey at the par-three 12^th.

Van Tonder was the exception as he birdied the 10^th, 11^th and 14^thholes and then eagled the 477-metre, par-five 17^th to come home in 31.

“I had a good start and that set the tone for the whole round. I just had to keep the momentum going,” Williams said.

“I’m very happy. You’re always pleased when you put yourself in position to win. I’ve gone above my expectations already. It’s my first title defence ever and there was quite a lot of pressure.

“But my favourite part of today was playing with Daniel. We fed off each other. He played seriously good golf today and I’m looking forward to us pushing each other, bringing out the best in each other, over the weekend. It was great fun with him today and there was a stretch where he just could not stop getting birdies and I was just trying to keep up with him,” Williams said.

Because of the exciting promise he has shown and his success in the last year, Williams has had to mature quickly under the weight of attention. Especially after his sensational fourth-place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

“It’s been tough handling all the external stuff, but I’m kinda learning how to handle it day in, day out. When I put my South African SIM card back in my phone, the number of messages waiting for me after the Dunhill Links was hectic.

“But I’m going to have to get used to it and learn to enjoy it. I still want to get my story out there as much as possible,” the 23-year-old Williams said.

Van der Merwe is 27 years old and only turned pro this year, but he showed why his amateur record was so good as he recovered from back-to-back bogeys on the third and fourth holes by collecting four birdies in the next five holes.

Rebula’s 66 included just one bogey and an eagle on the par-five 11^th.

American Will Zalatoris will make his debut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, with tickets and exciting luxury public hospitality options available to buy here…,or to book at [email protected].

The 28-year-old PGA Tour champion will join fellow American and defending champion Max Homa in this DP World Tour event, which is played in honour of Gary Player and in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International.

Zalatoris makes his debut in a tournament that he has long wanted to participate in, and from which he had to withdraw in 2022 as a result of injury.

“I’m thrilled to be heading to South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge,” said Zalatoris. “I’ve had amazing experiences playing in DP World Tour tournaments around the globe, and I’m confident South Africa will be just as memorable.”

“I’ve heard a lot about the tournament and its rich history as one of the most prestigious events on the Tour, plus the chance to experience a new country and culture, it’s going to be a great week.”

The 2020-21 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year will tee off at the Gary Player Country Club with a solid year behind him, including a top-ten at The Masters which was the sixth top-ten in 14 starts of his Major Championship career.

The World Number 59 also had two top-five finishes on the PGA TOUR this year – including an emotional second place at The Genesis Invitational where he played with the weight of having lost a family member that week – that carried him to 38^th on the FedExCup standings.

Zalatoris, the winner of the 2022 FedEx St Jude Championship, adds to a strong field of international depth which will showcase the global diversity of the DP World Tour through players such as defending champion Homa, Canadian and Presidents Cup International Team member Corey Conners, the South African Olympic duo of Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen, and Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by the Courier Guy winner Ryan van Velzen.

It will be a true showcase of golf talent that fans will be able to enjoy with a variety of hospitality options this year. The new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge is aimed at elevating the normal day visitor experience with a brand new hospitality lounge located close to the Public Village and offering an air-conditioned facility with indoor and outdoor seating, a live feed of the golf, and catering throughout the day.

The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation for exclusive access to the Hospitali-TEE Lounge, a premium buffet including breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, a fully stocked open bar, an all-day coffee station, a live television feed of the golf, daily live entertainment, a daily player autograph opportunity, a sunscreen station, daily prizes and competitions, and official Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise. To book click here…

The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th offers prime Nedbank Golf Challenge viewing in an air-conditioned luxury suite overlooking the 18^thgreen with under cover terrace. Fans will be able to enjoy an upmarket food experience, a premium tournament beverage bar, and live TV feed of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. It’s premier location also allows fans to enjoy the nearby ‘Africa’s Mini Major’ putt-putt tournament, visit the Merchandising Marquee or follow a favourite golfer around the course. The package fee will include an official entrance ticket to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, accreditation to enter ‘The Hospitali-TEE on 18^th’, a premium buffet offering breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks within the facility, a fully-stocked premium open bar, an all-day coffee station, live TV feed of daily play, daily player autograph opportunity, sunscreen station, a limited edition VIP packaged magnum wine (1.5l), an official branded Nedbank Golf Challenge golf shirt and cap, and a Buffalo Trace Bourbon whiskey tasting. There is also the opportunity to purchase additional package add-ons that include access to the official Welcome Dinner and the Beach Party, as well as golf at the Lost City Golf Course. To book please email [email protected]

EDENVALE, Gauteng – Kyle Barker has been trying to hone his game in preparation for the DP World Tour Qualifying School at the end of this month in Spain, and the 26-year-old fired an exceptional 63 in the opening round of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Thursday to fill him with confidence.

The Serengeti Estates golfer enjoys a one-stroke lead in the R2 million event, after Werner Deyzel and defending champion Robin Williams pushed him hard with 64s.

Barker’s nine-under-par score, which was also bogey-free, was his best round of the season and it seems he could be peaking at the right time after a solid but unspectacular start to the campaign sees him sitting in 18^th position on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

“I had a great first couple of months but then things just slowed down. I was struggling a bit with my game and the set-up in my bag. But now I’ve found a really nice putter that is rolling the ball fantastically.

“This is my last event before going to the DP World Tour Qualifying School and I really enjoyed the day. I was hitting the ball really nicely on the range in my warm-up and I just wanted to keep that feeling going, so birdies on the first two holes was a great way to start. I didn’t know that I was going to make only 26 putts though!

“The greens were very receptive after the rain on Tuesday night, and long-irons were pretty much stopping where they landed and wayward tee-shots would not bounce into too much trouble under trees. So I could be quite aggressive, but the back nine was a bit tougher because the wind picked up,” Barker said.

The highlight of a round that was just the right therapy for Barker was his eagle on the par-five 11^th.

“I smashed a drive down the middle and I had 196 metres to the front left, but the wind was slightly in my face, about seven or eight metres. So I hit a 205-metre shot with a six-iron, it was a bit long, in the middle of the green, but I had a downhill, 30-foot putt which went straight in the middle of the hole, which was really cool,” Barker explained.

Deyzel and Williams also had eagles in the first round, both of them on the 500-metre par-five sixth. Williams hit a brilliant seven-iron from 165 metres to three feet, which put him level with Barker on nine-under-par, but he bogeyed the par-three eighth, his penultimate hole.

Williams continued the momentum from his brilliant fourth-place finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month and he was satisfied that he had positioned himself well in his first defence of a title in his professional career.

“It’s been really cool today. It’s the first time I’ve defended and I’m just remembering all the good memories from last year. It all kicked off for me here last year. Playing in Europe was good, but it is so tough there because everything is so different.

“My game was really good today, everything was solid, just a bit of a mistake on eight. But I kept the ball on the fairways. It’s just a course I really enjoy, the par-fives are not that long, so I picture them as par-fours and try to be more aggressive, as long as you find the fairway. I drove well and was able to take advantage of the par-fives.

“I will definitely take that first round. I just want to put myself in a position to defend on the back nine on Sunday,” Williams said.

EDENVALE, Gauteng – Altin van der Merwe will be keenly aware of the power of this week’s Fortress Invitational on the Sunshine Tour to turn a rookie season into a groundbreaking one.

The 27-year-old, who is currently third on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings, will recall how Robin Williams won this title in his rookie season last year and now returns this week as the holder of a DP World Tour card.

Van Der Merwe heads into Thursday’s first round at Glendower Golf Club with two top-10s in his last five Sunshine Tour events. But it’s more the perspective he brings, having turned professional at a relatively later age than most, which Van Der Merwe feels is his biggest asset in this first season on Tour.

“I’ve had a few ups and a lot of downs in my life. As a result I feel like I know what’s out there and the disappointments you can go through. You learn to accept it a lot easier. Accepting is the biggest part of this game. If you hit a bad shot there’s nothing you can do about it but move on,” he says.

Van Der Merwe was 19 years old when he made his first attempt at the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School, and missed out by a single stroke. It was a career-defining moment for him, in more ways than one.

“I was pretty broken after Q School. We had a 10-hour drive the next day back to George and I decided we were going to drive through the night because I wasn’t going to stay there any longer. I didn’t say one word to my caddie or best friend at the time for 10 hours. The golf wasn’t the same for about two years after that. You get so emotional with this game.”

But what he did with his time thereafter was transforming. Van Der Merwe became one of South Africa’s top amateurs, rising through the ranks of GolfRSA and claiming a string of big titles. He also completed his studies and saw the real world in action while working as a waiter.

“I think if I’d made it at Q School then I would’ve struggled because I was a bit naive then. I was 19 and I thought I could take on anyone and anything, but you can’t beat golf. Now I’m glad I missed because I’ve achieved a lot of cool things in the past few years.”

This year April he returned to Q School, and won it.

Van Der Merwe has been close enough to a win twice already on the Sunshine Tour this season.

“I want to perform out here. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but my wife will often tell me to relax. But as long as I put myself in that position regularly, I’m going to have my chance.”

This week’s Fortress Invitational will also see South African Tyran Snyders play his first tournament as a professional on the Sunshine Tour as a product of the new Global Amateur Pathway. The Sunshine Tour, as part of the Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour, is a key supporter of the Global Amateur Pathway which was launched by the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and The R&A. Its vision is to help the best eligible male non-collegiate amateur players within the top 20 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings take the next step in their careers and secure playing rights on the DP World Tour and partner tours such as the Sunshine Tour. – Michael Vlismas