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7th December 2022

A ticket to world-class golf at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

A field containing two current European Ryder Cup vice-captains, a former European Ryder Cup captain, multiple Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour winners, and a collection of professional golf’s exciting young stars is what a ticket to this year’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will unlock for golf fans.

Ticket sales are in the final push with just over a week to go until the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned showpiece tees off at Mont Choisy Le Golf from 15-18 December.

Nicolas Colsaerts and Thomas Bjørn will bring the Ryder Cup flavour to this year’s tournament as two of the vice-captains for the European team ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. Bjørn adds to the Ryder Cup influence in the field as the victorious European captain at the 2018 Ryder Cup and a three-time Ryder Cup competitor before this.

The field also contains rookie PGA Tour campaigners Thomas Detry and Dean Burmester, DP World Tour champions Brandon Stone and Antoine Rozner, Challenge Tour champions JC Ritchie and Nathan Kimsey, and a number of professionals such as Deon Gemishuys and Bryce Easton who have recently secured their DP World Tour cards and will be using this event to make a fast start to the new season.

The next generation of talent will also be on display in Casey Jarvis, Filippo Celli, Jayden Schaper, Tom McKibbin, Wilco Nienaber, and 2022 Amateur champion Aldrich Potgieter.

Further ticket details can be found here https://afrasiabankmauritiusopen.com/tournament/ and tickets to this DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned tournament can be purchased at https://www.marideal.mu/afrasia-bank-mauritius-open-tournament.html.

The 2022 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open returns to the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour schedules for the first time since 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic and has drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors including Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, Mont Choisy Group, Jaguar, Rogers, Heritage Resorts, IBL, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), 3G Mobile, Phoenix Beverages, Air Mauritius, Mautourco, Fenix XCell Apparel, Hertz, Jacobs, C-Care, Emtel, PRO CARTS, IT Solvz, Häagen-Dazs and Dragon Electronics.

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28th November 2022

Momentum to keep Sunshine Tour golfers in good health

The Sunshine Tour and Momentum Health Solutions have partnered to provide the leading top 50 golfers with medical aid coverage and a range of other wellness benefits suited to professional athletes.

The initial two-year sponsorship deal will see those professionals who ended in the top 50 on the final Order of Merit in May 2022 receiving cover for the 2023 calendar year. Those players who finish in the top 50 by the end of May 2023 will then receive the same for the 2024 calendar year.

Beyond the traditional private medical aid offering, the additional benefits for the leading Sunshine Tour professionals will be access to Momentum’s Multiply wellness programme and HealthSaver account which provides for the opportunity to save for additional day-to-day medical expenses.

“This partnership with Momentum Medical Scheme and Momentum Health Solutions is critical in light of the consistent pressure our players are under to protect their health,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“Not only is it important for them to look after their physical health but also to ensure that their wider wellness is being taken care of by removing the cost of medical aid cover and providing them access to a range of health support services unique to their individual needs.”

Commenting on the sponsorship, Damian McHugh, CMO at Momentum Health Solutions, said, “We are aware that for sports men and women their health is their most valuable asset, and as such we are happy to provide support to them where it matters most. As a company we have demonstrated our commitment to a variety of sports in South Africa, creating opportunities for players to place their health and wellness first.”

Photo: Damian McHugh, CMO at Momentum Health Solutions (left) and Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, celebrate the partnership that will bring a new level of wellness to the Tour’s leading professionals.

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18th October 2022

Lawrence back to defend Joburg Open title

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence has confirmed he will defend his Joburg Open title as this international Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament moves to its new home at Houghton Golf Club from November 24-27, 2022.

Lawrence returns to a tournament where he made Joburg Open and South African golf history last year by becoming the first winner in the new era of the DP World Tour.

The young South African professional has been a perfect example of the Joburg Open’s status as a tournament that opens international doors for its winners.

The victory provided the platform for Lawrence to take his career to the next level as his win also earned him an exemption into his first Major, the historic 150thplaying of The Open Championship in St Andrews this year where he finished tied 42nd. Lawrence also added a second DP World Tour title when he won the Omega European Masters in August this year.

“The Joburg Open is very special to me because it opened so many doors for my career,” said Lawrence.

“It was my first DP World Tour title. It also earned me a place in my first Major, which was a lifelong dream come true for me. To play your first ever Major on the Old Course in St Andrews is an unbelievable dream come true. And then I was able to build on that Joburg Open win and claim my second DP World Tour title this year and secure my place on the Tour,” he explained.

“It changed everything for me. It was the first stepping stone to get to my bigger dreams. From a young age I’ve always wanted to win on the DP World Tour, so I’m extremely grateful for what the Joburg Open has meant to my career and I’m delighted to be able to come back and support the event as the defending champion, “he concluded.

The Joburg Open will once again tee off the DP World Tour’s new season in this world-class African city, and with Houghton Golf Club joining an array of Johannesburg’s finest golf courses to have hosted this tournament.

“We cannot wait to welcome the eyes of the golf world on the City of Johannesburg and we are extremely proud to be the host for the start of the DP World Tour’s new season. The Joburg Open is a perfect representation of the world-class spirit of Johannesburg and its people, and we are excited to once again host some of the finest golfers in the world,” said Executive Mayor, Cllr. Dada Morero.

Tickets for the Joburg Open are available at https://sunshinetour.com/ with the prices ranging from R100 for the Thursday and Friday and R200 for the Saturday and Sunday, or daily access for all four days at R300. There is 50% early bird discount on ticket prices if purchased before the end of October.

“We have a compelling value offering for golf fans at this year’s Joburg Open as we bring together a new host course in Houghton Golf Club and a world-class field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour professionals. We are grateful for all the support the City of Johannesburg provides as we take this incredible city and this amazing tournament to worldwide audience,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

Photo: The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr. Dada Morero, and Sunshine Tour Commissioner Thomas Abt announcing the new home of the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club.

 

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17th October 2022

Mont Choisy Le Golf set to impress as host of 2022 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

The spectacular Mont Choisy Le Golf will make its international tournament debut on the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour schedules when it hosts the 2022 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open for the first time during 15-18 December, and golf course designer Peter Matkovich is excited about a course he says will present a fair and exciting challenge for the world’s professionals.

“I think our team did an incredible job in creating a golf course that we love, and which the members and owners are also very happy with. It looks very natural and we’ve used the black volcanic rock that is a feature in the north of the island to create this beautiful contrast with the green grass,” Matkovich said of the only 18-hole championship course in the northern region of Mauritius.

Matkovich’s love for this golf course began almost 16 years ago when he first walked the magnificent Allée des Flamboyants walkway which leads to the Mont Choisy Golf and Beach Estate and envisioned a golf course there.

“It was a special place for me in Mauritius. It was a challenge designing and building the golf course to get the right balance with the volcanic rock, and to also conserve the topsoil and water of the area which is very scarce. The shaping team did an incredible job, and the landscaping team has also ensured that the golf course blends superbly with its environment. My philosophy is to bring golf back into golf course design and we achieved that here with a golf course that places as much emphasis on strategy as it does on the experience.”

Jyoti Jeetun, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Mont Choisy Group, believes Mont Choisy Le Golf will make a tremendous impact as the home of the 2022 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

“Peter and his team at Peter Matkovich Design have done a wonderful job in creating a course that is a visual splendour as well as a delight to play, for both our members and the professionals. Set between the iconic town of Grand Baie and Mon Choisy Beach, it is going to be a privilege for us to showcase this magnificent course to an international audience and the way it complements the ‘Once in a Lifestyle’ proposition the beautiful Mont Choisy Golf and Beach Estate has to offer.”

As a challenge for the professionals, Matkovich and his team have created a golf course that is not overly long at 6 447 metres and with a blend of tough holes offset by some exciting driveable par fours.

“I think in December at the time of the tournament the golf course should play hard and fast, which is what we’d like. I do believe we’ll see good scores from the professionals.”

The 2022 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open returns to the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour schedules for the first time since 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic and has drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors including Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, Mont Choisy Group, Jaguar, Rogers, Heritage Resorts, IBL, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), 3G Mobile, Phoenix Beverages, Air Mauritius, Mautourco, Fenix Apparel and Hertz.

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12th October 2022

SA stars back and chasing glory in Investec South African Open Championship

South African golf’s biggest stars will be back on local fairways this December as they unite in their quest for Investec South African Open glory and the chance to claim what they’ve called “our fifth Major”.

Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester, Dylan Frittelli, MJ Daffue, Brandon Stone, Erik van Rooyen, Thriston Lawrence, Oliver Bekker, Shaun Norris and defending champion Daniel van Tonder have all confirmed their participation in the second oldest national Open in golf at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate from 1-4 December.

“I can’t wait to get there and compete in such an iconic event and try I put my name on that trophy alongside the greats like Ernie Els and Gary Player and so many others. For us as South Africans it’s our fifth Major and we all want to win it so badly. For me personally, I’ve won the South African PGA Championship, so to get my name on the Investec South African Open trophy as well and have done the double would be very special,” said PGA Tour campaigner Dean Burmester.

Fellow PGA Tour star Dylan Frittelli said he’s returning to challenge for a title he feels is essential to his career.

“The Investec South African Open is the biggest tournament in the world for me right now besides a Major. It means so much to me. It was the first professional tournament I ever played. I qualified when I was 16 years old. I definitely want to win my national Open before my playing career is over. I think my career will be incomplete if I don’t do that.”

DP World Tour campaigner Oliver Bekker said he is back to try and go one better than his runner-up finish to Daniel van Tonder in last year’s Investec South African Open.

“It’s our home Open and I would really like to have my name on that trophy with the likes of Ernie Els and Gary Player and all of the South African golf legends. After coming so close last year I’m really looking forward to playing well on home soil and hopefully to have a chance of lifting that trophy.”

Shaun Norris said he’s particularly excited about competing on home fairways again.

“It’s always great to play back home, and so much more in your national Open. It’s every golfer’s dream to win his national Open. It will mean the world to me to add my name to that trophy with all of the great players who’ve done it before.”

Thriston Lawrence is also returning home to compete in a championship he’s been watching since he was a young golfer.

“I can’t wait for this year’s Investec South African Open. What an historic event. It’s a tournament I’ll always support because I grew up watching it on TV and have always wanted to win it, especially with all the names on that trophy and the history behind it. I’d obviously love to win it and will give it my all.”

The Sunshine Tour this week launched its ticketing package for this prestigious Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament aimed at maximising value and the overall experience.

Ticket prices range from R150 for the Thursday or Friday to R300 for the Saturday or Sunday, with a 50% discount if purchased before the end of October. Tickets can be purchased at www.sunshinetour.com.

The world-class action inside the ropes will be matched by a festival of golf for the whole family at this year’s tournament.

The festivities will include a big screen in the tournament village for sports fans to be able to keep up with the latest FIFA World Cup action. There will also be a Golf Expo Centre featuring the very latest in golf equipment. Fans will be able to have their photo taken with the iconic Investec South African Open trophy, and the youngest golf fans will have their own dedicated kid’s area to keep them entertained. The tournament village will include a food and drinks market as well as a Stella Artois beer garden. And a Saturday afternoon music concert will provide the perfect way to relax after the third-round action and prepare for an epic final round.

It will also be more than just the professionals who will have the chance to win big at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate.

From the Thursday to the Saturday of the world’s second oldest national Open, three lucky fans will be selected to prove they have the nerves of steel of the professionals and will win the chance to putt for R10 000 on the 18th green after play. On the Sunday of the final round, three fans will have the chance to also putt for glory, but for R100 000.

It’s the biggest week in South African golf, and it’s live on the Sunshine Tour.

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7th October 2022

Sunshine Tour to ensure water is not a hazard

The Sunshine Tour is taking another major step towards environmental sustainability through a partnership with Bluewater that will significantly reduce the presence of single-use plastic water bottles at its tournaments, and with a long-term plan to become one of the first major tours worldwide to incorporate this throughout its entire schedule.

Bluewater is a world leader in clean water technology and solutions. The company already collaborates with The R&A to provide its free-standing outdoor and indoor hydration stations for The Open.

As the first step in its long-term sustainability plan, a Sunshine Tour Bluewater hydration station will be in use at this week’s new Fortress Invitational at the Ebotse Links, which tees off on Friday.

“As a golf tour we are in the business of working together with nature to ensure a successful product, and as such it’s imperative that we do this responsibly,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“To achieve this we are actively putting in place a full sustainability programme and seeking world-leading partners for this that will incorporate our entire schedule as well as on the Sunshine Ladies Tour. The first step in this process is a water sustainability programme that we can roll out to all our tournaments, beginning with the Fortress Invitational.”

The hydration stations will be open to all golfers and members of the public who simply need to bring their own reusable bottles to the golf course in an effort to not only protect the environment, but also their own health.

“Microplastics have been found in both bottled water and tap water as well as in the bodies of adults and babies. Bluewater water purifiers have been shown to remove microplastics from water, thereby reducing risk of human contamination,” says Janneke Brasecke, General Manager: Bluewater Africa.

 

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26th September 2022

Sunshine Tour announces strong finish to 2022

The Sunshine Tour has announced a strong summer schedule that includes the return of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Alfred Dunhill Championship and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open following their Covid-enforced breaks.

The last two months of 2022 will feature a host of tournaments co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and with South Africa’s leading professionals in action, including those who have competed on the LIV Golf series.

November will tee off with the South African PGA Championship at St Francis Links, followed by the 40th anniversary of the iconic Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City. The new Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational will also be played at Sun City in November, in honour of the late Vivienne Player. The Joburg Open takes place at the end of November at the new host venue of Houghton Golf Club, and teeing off a strong run of four DP World Tour co-sanctioned events.

December will see a new era unfold in the second oldest national Open in golf with the Investec South African Open, and to be played at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate.

The Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek returns to the schedule after its cancellation last year due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions imposed upon South Africa.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open also makes its return to the schedule for the first time since 2019, with Mauritius now fully open to international golf again. This year’s tournament will be played at the new venue of Mont Choisy Le Golf.

“We’re looking forward to an incredibly exciting end-of-year run of tournaments on the Sunshine Tour,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“The last few years have been a tremendous challenge as we’ve negotiated all the obstacles around Covid-19. I am proud to say that as a Tour we have successfully negotiated probably the most challenging time in our history. We’ve increased our schedule and provided even more opportunities and value for our members. The main reason we’ve been able to do so is because of the loyalty of our sponsors, who have been unwavering in their support of us.

“We now look to our biggest tournaments and the privilege of being able to play these under ‘normal’ circumstances again with capacity crowds, and to welcome back our leading golfers from their international commitments as we celebrate a full schedule of world-class international golf on our Tour.”

Schedule

November

3-6 November: South African PGA Championship, St Francis Links

10-13 November: Nedbank Golf Challenge, Gary Player Country Club Sun City

19-20 November: Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational, Lost City Golf Course Sun City

24-27 November: Joburg Open, Houghton Golf Club

December

1-4 December: Investec South African Open, Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate

8-11 December: Alfred Dunhill Championship, Leopard Creek Country Club

15-18 December: AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, Mont Choisy Le Golf

 

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Sunshine Tour and Vodacom Origins support Gqeberha community

28th September 2021

Sunshine Tour and Vodacom Origins support Gqeberha community

GQEBERHA, Eastern Cape – The Sunshine Tour travels to the famous Humewood links this week for the next leg on the 2021 Vodacom Origins of Golf Series, and with a clear focus to make a difference outside the ropes and off the fairways in the local community.

Since it first teed off in 2004, the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series has included a strong charity focus at every tournament. Over the years this has included working with the young golfers of the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) and giving them access to coaching clinics by the Tour’s professionals at the various tournaments, to supporting anti-bullying campaigns and raising funds for various children’s charities.

This week, the official pro-am of the Humewood tournament is raising funds for the Maro Foundation, which was started in 2014 by Pamela Mabini. The pro-am dinner alone raised a significant amount of funding for the foundation.

Mabini, a social and gender activist from Kwazakhele, uses her corporate network to distribute food, blankets, clothes, shoes and hygiene products to the homeless. She has also opened two facilities in Johannesburg for the rehoming of mentally handicapped, disabled or HIV-positive children who have been abandoned by their families.

According to Tshego Malinga, Vodacom’s executive head of department for the Customer Business Unit Eastern Region, this ties in perfectly with their desire to ensure the series makes an impact in the communities where it is played.

“We have the ability to make sure profit meets purpose and I am a firm believer that the two are never mutually exclusive. At the centre of everything we do at Vodacom is the desire to enable our customers to live out their purpose. We do that by connecting them in an environment in which they can express their passions and aspirations.

“But it’s also important for Vodacom to be part of the development of South Africa as a whole, and sport plays a very important part in the development of the nation. We want to help people explore their talent and hopefully some of them can go on to become international icons. We also want to be helpful to the community and the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series has really assisted in the funding of many charities,” Malinga says.

“We want to help those who have less access to things we might take for granted. We need a consciousness of the environment we operate in. So it’s special for us to be able to host this event and help the Maro Foundation in these times of Covid and all the challenges around that.”

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Dimension Data stands firm in support of Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour

9th April 2021

Dimension Data stands firm in support of Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour

The Sunshine Tour, Sunshine Ladies Tour and Dimension Data have announced that the longstanding Dimension Data Pro-Am will still go ahead as planned this May, but without the pro-am element in observance of the Coronavirus health protocols and current restrictions.

The Dimension Data Pro-Am features on both the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour schedules, with the two tournaments played concurrently at Fancourt from 6-9 May.

News that the tournament, which is one of the longest standing on the Sunshine Tour dating back to 1996 and is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tour, will still be played for professionals on both the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour has been welcomed as a major show of support of South African professional golf from Dimension Data.

“I would like to commend Dimension Data and thank Jeremy Ord for his unstinting support of the Sunshine Tour and the Sunshine Ladies Tour during this challenging time,” said Johann Rupert, Chairman of the Sunshine Tour.

“Jeremy and Dimension Data have long been loyal friends and true servants of the game of golf in South Africa, and this is an incredible decision in continuation of this support.”

Jeremy Ord, Chairman of Dimension Data, said the decision was a difficult one to make, but the right one in the current environment.

“The Dimension Data Pro-Am has established itself as not only a premier golf tournament, but also a gathering of friends as we’ve shared the fairways with sports stars, celebrities, professionals and our valued customers, partners and suppliers from around the world over the years. It is disappointing that as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic we cannot host all our valued amateur guests again this year, but we feel it is the prudent decision to make in the interests of everyone’s safety. However, we remain committed to the Sunshine Tour and the Sunshine Ladies Tour, and I am pleased that we can continue our support in this fashion.”

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support from Dimension Data.

“I think this is an incredible gesture from Dimension Data to offer a solution in a very challenging time, and one which still gives our Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals vital playing opportunities. I would like to thank Jeremy Ord and his team for their support, as well as our Executive Director Selwyn Nathan for his continued influence as we navigate this pandemic’s effect on golf. I also need to thank European Tour Chief Executive Officer Keith Pelley and the European Challenge Tour for their ongoing support of our South African swing of co-sanctioned tournaments.”

This year, the tournament will have a revised format for the Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals.

The Sunshine Tour and Sunshine Ladies Tour fields will each be split and play the Outeniqua and Montagu courses at Fancourt on alternating days for the first and second rounds. Thereafter, the Sunshine Tour field will be cut to the top 60 and ties, and the Sunshine Ladies Tour field to the top 30 and ties. The Sunshine Ladies Tour will then play the final round of their 54-hole tournament at the Outeniqua on the Saturday, while the Sunshine Tour will play the final two rounds of their 72-hole tournament on the Montagu.

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It’s April, and The Masters is back where it should be 4

6th April 2021

It’s April, and The Masters is back where it should be

Take a deep breath. It’s April, and they’re playing The Masters. That’s a big step back towards something normal in these crazy times.

Dustin Johnsons green jacket from five months ago hasn’t even had time to gather dust in the closet, and now were doing it all again in what is the shortest time frame between The Masters in its history.

South Africa will be represented by Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dylan Frittelli and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

And three-time Masters champion Gary Player will also be there in his role as Honorary Starter on Thursday morning alongside Jack Nicklaus and first-time Honorary Starter Lee Elder. Elder was the first Black professional to compete in The Masters in 1975. It will be a warm meeting between Player and Elder, as Player also invited Elder to compete in the 1971 PGA Championship in South Africa, which was one of the first major tournaments in South African golf to include both Black and White professionals.

Inside the ropes, Oosthuizen makes his 13th appearance in The Masters and may feel he still has unfinished business following his playoff defeat to Bubba Watson in 2012.

Schwartzel is back as the 2011 champion, which made him only the third South African after Player and Trevor Immelman to slip on a green jacket.

Frittelli returns only five months after he challenged for a maiden Major title at Augusta National Golf Club before finishing tied fifth last November.

And Bezuidenhout makes his second appearance in The Masters after a debut in November that saw him finish a solid 38th.

But the key to this years Masters and the likely contenders lies in its date. April.

A November Masters was unique in every sense, but most importantly in the way the Augusta National Golf Club played that week. It was a lot softer than it will be now in April.

But none of that really matters. All that matters is it’s April, the azaleas are in bloom, and a green jacket is up for grabs.

So take a deep breath.

It’s Masters week. – Michael Vlismas