Category: Featured News

GEORGE, Western Cape – Wilco Nienaber produced two of the finest days of golf that felt like one long day all on its own as he shot rounds of 60 and then 66 to lead the NTT DATA Pro-Am by three strokes at Fancourt on Friday.

Nienaber returned on Friday morning to complete his first round – which had been suspended on Thursday because of heavy rain – and did so with a remarkable 60 on the Outeniqua. That earned him a three-stroke lead over Jacques Blaauw and Eddie Pepperell on 12 under par.

After a short break he teed off his second round on The Links and signed for a 66 to climb to 19 under par overall, and yet to drop a shot in this year’s tournament.

Blaauw is his nearest challenger on 16 under following a 66 of his own on The Links, while Kyle Barker moved into contention on 13 under par and Jovan Rebula reached the halfway stage on 12 under par.

“That was a long two days, but very cool,” said Nienaber. “It was a long morning in the first round (with the delays) and we only teed off after 4pm. Outeniqua is always a tricky one because you know you have to score so if you don’t get off to a good start you feel like you’re chasing, so I was very happy with that.”

There is placing this week so his 60 is not an official course record, but it was nevertheless an incredible round of golf to witness.

Nienaber teed off his first round at the 10^th and was six under par through nine holes when darkness brought an end to play on Thursday. “The whole of that evening I was thinking about a 59,” he said.

He returned on Friday morning and eagled his second hole of the day. Then came four consecutive birdies on his way to his final hole of the round – the par-four ninth.

“But then I hit a poor putt on the last to finish with a par,” he said.

He carried his momentum onto The Links and cemented his place at the top of the leaderboard, and in a tournament which he won in 2021.

“I really like The Links. It’s very unique and it always feels like a privilege to play it. I’m in a good position for the weekend and I won’t change a thing.” – Michael Vlismas

GEORGE, Western Cape – Fancourt will be a true showcase of professional golf this week at the NTT DATA Men’s and Ladies’ Pro-Ams, with the men’s tournament celebrating its 30^th anniversary as one of the Sunshine Tour’s most historic tournaments with past champions including Major winners, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars, and former world number ones.

This year marks the transition from what was formerly the Dimension Data Pro-Am to the rebranded NTT DATA Pro-Am, continuing a tradition that dates back to the first men’s tournament in 1996 and the first ladies’ tournament in 2014.

The respective tournaments each offer a wealth of opportunity.

The Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour professionals will compete in the men’s tournament from Thursday to Sunday for a total purse of R7 million on the three courses of The Links, Montagu and Outeniqua, while the Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals will compete from Friday to Sunday for total prize money of R2.5 million on the Montagu and Outeniqua.

Both tournaments will also feature live coverage on SuperSport.

The men’s tournament has drawn a strong field of stars including the in-form Daniel van Tonder, twice a winner on the HotelPlanner Tour this year already, former NTT DATA Pro-Am champions Oliver Bekker and Wilco Nienaber, multiple Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour winners Shaun Norris, Brandon Stone and George Coetzee, and former European Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson.

The ladies’ tournament, where both NTT DATA and Standard Bank have placed significant emphasis on elevating the awareness of women’s professional golf on the Sunshine Ladies Tour through increased prize money and greater televised coverage on SuperSport, is equally competitive.

The field includes former NTT DATA Ladies’ Pro-Am champions Kylie Henry, Lee-Anne Pace, Stacy Bregman and Nobuhle Dlamini, as well as Sunshine Ladies Tour champions Cara Gorlei, Gabrielle Venter and Helen Kreuzer.

Along with a sizeable presence of sports stars and celebrities competing, the 2025 NTT DATA Pro-Am will indeed be a showcase of world-class golf.

This year’s event will also again feature a focus on global sustainability through the partnership with Chedza to help raise funds for solar backpacks and stationery packs for the underprivileged community of George. Last year the event contributed to a donation of 250 backpacks, with the goal to double that figure this year.

“The NTT DATA Pro-Am represents more than just world-class competition—it’s a celebration of excellence, inclusivity, and impact, both on and off the course. We are especially excited about our ongoing commitment to sustainability and community upliftment through our partnership with Chedza. Together, we aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the underprivileged community of George while showcasing the best of professional golf,” said Thembeka Ngugi, SVP Marketing at NTT DATA in Middle East & Africa.

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CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – England’s Jamie Rutherford claimed his maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour with a two-stroke triumph in the Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor at Royal Cape Golf Club on Sunday.

Jeff and Sarah Rutherford, his parents who had flown out from England to support their son on the final day, broke down in tears as they watched him close out a composed final round of 69 in windy conditions to win on 14 under par.

“It’s been a long time coming. He’s been so consistent. Today’s such a great achievement for him. He works so hard,” said his father Jeff.

For Rutherford, it was indeed a moment to savour.

“I’m ecstatic. My family have supported me the whole way. To travel halfway around the world to come and watch me play shows you much they support me. And for me to win when they are here is really special,” he said.

South Africa’s Keenan Davidse finished second on 12 under par with a final round of 67.

It was a confident performance from Rutherford in very tricky conditions. He made three key birdies on the front nine and two on the back nine that allowed him the two bogeys he also made over the final nine holes.

“I’m really pleased with how I played in such tough conditions. I was very good off the tee, and my putting was really good as well. I made some really important putts coming down the stretch. I’ve worked really hard on not being too hard on myself during a round. I’ve worked on controlling my emotions and staying in the present, and I did that today,” he said

“I’ve had so many good finishes, top-10s and opportunities, but the win has been missing. I’ve been working hard and playing on the HotelPlanner Tour for a few years now, so to win now is brilliant. I love this golf course. I love Cape Town. And I love coming to South Africa. It’s a great way to start the year. The hospitality here is just so amazing.” – Michael Vlismas

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – A few months ago Martin Vorster wasn’t sure he’d be able to retain his playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour without a medical exemption. This week he heads into the Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor at Royal Cape Golf Club just outside the top 10 on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

“I get goosebumps just thinking about that,” he said ahead of Thursday’s first round of this Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour co-sanctioned tournament.

Last year the talented young star had to work his way back from a hip injury, and he made his return to the Sunshine Tour last August.

Then last week he pushed the in-form Daniel van Tonder right to the final hole of the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood before finishing second.

“Six months ago I never expected to be in this position. I had such an incredible team around me and we just kept positive and decided to just do what we could daily. And now it’s paying off. I was very proud of myself for just being able to stay in the running last week. Daniel has been playing unbelievable golf and my goal was just to try and give him a go and I think I did that. I’m just pleased I kept myself in the mix, and hopefully we can do the same again this week,” he said.

This week represents yet another opportunity for Vorster on a golf course he’s excited about.

“I grew up in Mossel Bay so I’ve played a lot of golf in the wind, and we’re expecting some high winds which should be fun. The course is looking unbelievably good, and I think a tournament like this has to be played in some wind.”

Vorster is part of a group who have arrived in the Mother City like a rising tide of golfers in good form at the moment.

Daniel van Tonder’s back-to-back wins the past two weeks make him an obvious contender. A third win this week would automatically secure him a DP World Tour card for next season.

Nikhil Rama has finished 12^th and fourth in his last two Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour co-sanctioned events, while Irishman Liam Nolan arrives in Cape Town with finishes of third and fourth in his last two events on South African fairways.

And former champions Benjamin Follett-Smith and JC Ritchie are chasing their own place in the tournament’s history as they each seek to become the first three-time winner of this event. – Michael Vlismas

HARTBEESPOORT, North West – Daniel van Tonder continued his incredible form with a two-stroke victory in the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood on Sunday, claiming back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour as well as his fourth victory this season.

Van Tonder closed with a 67 to win on 27 under par, claiming his second victory in as many weeks after winning the SDC Open.

It also entrenched his number one position at the top of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy and the HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca rankings.

“It’s amazing. I’ve been playing well and have just backed myself. I’ve been working hard and it’s nice to see the results come through now,” said Van Tonder.

Martin Vorster finished second on 25 under par with a closing 65, and as the only man on the day who came closest to catching Van Tonder.

Van Tonder appeared to be cruising to victory, but then came a two-shot swing on the par-four 15^th where he made bogey from the greenside bunker to drop to 26 under par and Vorster made birdie to climb to 24 under par.

Van Tonder responded with a birdie on 16 and Vorster kept up his challenge with a birdie on 17 before both parred the last.

Australia’s Danny List took third place on 24 under par with a closing 67.

It’s been a dream past few months for Van Tonder, who has also celebrated the birth of his baby daughter Gabriella Grace. He now needs one more victory on the HotelPlanner Tour to secure his DP World Tour card for next season.

“I’ve been very blessed and feel very grateful. I’m just going to continue reaching for the stars and see where I land,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

HARTBEESPOORT, North West – Daniel van Tonder holds a two-stroke clubhouse lead going into the weekend of the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood and is hunting back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour.

Van Tonder signed for a second round of 66 on Friday to climb to 16 under par overall. His nearest challenger is Martin Vorster who posted a second round of 65 for a total of 14 under par.

But the second round will have to be completed on Saturday morning after play was suspended for a little under two hours due to dangerous weather conditions from an approaching storm.

Van Tonder is coming off a win in last week’s SDC Open and kept his hold on this tournament on another low-scoring day.

Van Tonder, who led the first round with a 62, teed off the first and did most of his scoring around the turn with a run of seven birdies in 10 holes and only one bogey in that stretch.

“I’m very pleased. I played solid. I didn’t really think about how to follow up my 62 yesterday. I took it as a new day to start fresh. But I did feel like I left a few birdies out there, especially on the front nine,” he said.

“You need to keep making birdies here. I’m looking forward to a bit of pressure. I play better when I’m under pressure. My gameplan on the weekend will be the same – head down and attack.”

Behind him, Vorster is also looking forward to a weekend of being in contention after his top-20 finish last week.

“I’m in a great position and excited for the weekend. Everything stays the same for the next two days and then we’ll add up the score at the end,” he said.

Vorster managed his game exceptionally well on Friday on a course where the temptation could be to try and force the birdies.

“It’s easy to get too aggressive on a course like this. You’re tempted to go for every flag, but sometimes taking a wedge and aiming just three steps left or right of the flag is the right shot. You know the scores are going to be really low here, so you need to remind yourself that if you give yourself chances the putts are going to drop. I just stuck to my gameplan very well today,” he said as he chases a maiden professional title.

With the scores as low as they are, the weekend still offers plenty of opportunity for those chasing Van Tonder, including Sebastian Friedrichsen and Nikhil Rama four shots behind him. – Michael Vlismas