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Dolphin Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) – Louis Albertse claimed his third Sunshine Tour victory in dramatic fashion when he beat Pieter Moolman in a playoff to win the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya at Umhlali Country Club on Friday.

It was a predictably tight finish to a tournament that remained wide open going into the final round, with five players tied for the lead. Albertse and Moolman were part of that group.

It was Moolman who took the early advantage and went into the back nine with a two-stroke lead over Albertse.

But it was Albertse’s flawless back nine that forced the playoff as he made four birdies. Moolman birdied the last to set the target at 11 under par before being joined there by Albertse. Both players closed with rounds of 66.

Albertse then birdied the second playoff hole to take the title.

The victory moved him into eighth place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit standings.

Tyran Snyders continued his good form this season and signed for a 67 to finish third on 10 under par, claiming his third top-10 finish in his last five tournaments. 

Kyle Barker (67) and Jaco Prinsloo (68) shared fourth place on nine under par, while amateur Ruben van der Berg earned himself a top-10 finish with his closing 70. – Michael Vlismas Media

Dolphin Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) – Young stars Benjamin van Wyk and Tyran Snyders have played their way into a five-way tie for the lead and will chase their maiden Sunshine Tour titles in Friday’s final round of the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya at Umhlali Country Club.

Van Wyk signed for a second round of 64 and Snyders posted a 67 to see them share the lead on six under par with the experienced Jaco Prinsloo (67), Louis Albertse (66) and Pieter Moolman (65). They are one stroke clear of the field.

Van Wyk, who recently graduated from college in America, finds himself in contention a month after he finished sixth on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series.

“I had an awesome day with my caddie, Jeff. I think I made 19 putts, which is by far the least I’ve had. I hit some good iron shots after I made a slight swing adjustment before the round. I’m really enjoying it. Playing pro golf is a lot of fun. It’s nice to be on the Sunshine Tour to see what I can do,” he said.

Snyders has also shown signs of finding his feet on Tour, with finishes of seventh, eighth and 12^th in three of his last four tournaments before this week.

“Life on the Sunshine Tour so far has been fun. It’s almost full circle as I’m meeting up with old friends again. I try not to make golf bigger than it is. It’s the same game I’ve played as a youngster,” he said.

With a five-way tie for the lead and as many as 17 players within three shots of the lead, including last week’s champion Haydn Porteous, it’s going to be a thrilling final round on Friday.

“I always like a stacked leaderboard. It makes it fun to watch,” said Van Wyk. “I’ll just stick to my routine and try and keep it simple and try to make lots of putts. I am super exited.”

Snyders is hoping for something similar.

“On this course there are a lot of guys that are still in it. I will just focus on what I can do and play like I did today – almost boring golf and take advantage of opportunities,” he said. – Michael Vlismas Media

Norwegian star Viktor Hovland is set to tee it up in South Africa for the first time when he makes his Nedbank Golf Challenge debut in honour of Gary Player at the Gary Player Country Club from December 4-7, 2025.

Hovland will make his third consecutive Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage Black next week, as Team Europe look to defend the trophy they won two years ago. The 27-year-old made history during that victory in Rome as he and fellow Scandinavian Ludvig Åberg recorded a 9&7 victory over World Number One Scottie Scheffler and five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka.

The World Number 11 and 2023 FedExCup champion was the first player from Norway to win on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR and claimed his 11^thworldwide title with his victory at the Valspar Championship in Florida in March.

Hovland said: “I’m excited to tee it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge for the first time this December. I’ve had a lot of cool experiences at DP World Tour events around the world, and I’m looking forward to adding this one to the list.

“It’s an event that has a lot of history, a great list of winners and, of course, in honour of Gary Player, so I’m sure it will be a great week.”

This year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again feature the popular Hospitali-TEE Lounge, offering an unrivalled viewing experience for fans.

The Hospitali-TEE Lounge offers access to the day’s golf, an unlimited premium bar and buffet, a Nedbank Golf Challenge merchandise voucher, a seat on the VIP grandstand at the 18^th green, a photo opportunity with the trophy, live entertainment, daily prizes and a player autograph opportunity.

This enhanced fan experience is centrally located close to the public village, with an air-conditioned facility that brings the best of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to the comfort of the Lounge with indoor and outdoor seating and a live TV feed of the golf.

Tickets and hospitality are on sale now at www.nedbankgolfchallenge.com

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – Haydn Porteous produced one of the great comebacks when he won the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course for his first Sunshine Tour title since 2016.

In a tournament plagued by weather delays and reduced to 36 holes, Porteous claimed a one-stroke victory on seven under par following rounds of 66 and 69.

It was a remarkable comeback for Porteous who was playing on an invitation this week and was desperately seeking to reclaim the form that saw him win two DP World Tour events in the 2016 Joburg Open and the 2017 D+D Real Czech Masters. His last victory on the Sunshine Tour before this was in the 2016 Investec Cup.

Kyle McClatchie, Herman Loubser, Luke Jerling, Allen John, Estiaan Conradie, Daniel van Tonder and Austin Bautista all shared second place on six under par.

Gabrielle Venter produced rounds of 70 and 69 to finish as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on three under par and in joint 19^th place.

But it was an emotional moment for Porteous as he broke a lengthy win drought, which brought him to tears after his victory.

The victory sees him join an illustrious list of winners on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series, which has been played on the Sunshine Tour since 2004.

It’s a series Porteous has had experience of before, having lost in a playoff for a victory in 2014.

The victory moves him into 11^th place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit. – Michael Vlismas Media

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – Kyle McClatchie, Dylan Mostert, Haydn Porteous and Ryan van der Klis will resume their second rounds on Sunday in the joint lead on six under par in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course after fading light forced an end to play on Saturday.

It was a busy day with the suspended first round eventually completed on Saturday afternoon before the golfers went straight into the second round.

Dylan Mostert finished the first round in the lead with a magnificent seven-under-par 64. But he found trouble early in his second round with a seven on his second hole of the round.

McClatchie, who is still looking for a maiden win on Tour, followed up his first round 66 with a strong start to his second round. The South African, who has only managed two top-10 finishes so far on Tour, rolled in five birdies in his first six holes. Unfortunately for McClatchie, four bogeys followed to pull him back into a share of the on-course lead.

Haydn Porteous managed to finish nine holes of his second round to share the lead, with Van Der Klis yet to tee off his second round and tied for the lead following his opening 65.

Kelsey Nicholas is the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on two-under par after finishing her first round with 69.

The second round will resume on Sunday at 07:00. – Michael Vlismas Media

Midlands (KwaZulu-Natal) – On a first day when mist delayed the start of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course on Friday, Sunshine Tour rookie Ryan van der Klis managed to see the top of the leaderboard quite clearly.

Van Der Klis climbed into the lead on six under par with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness.

The delay caused by the mist of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands means the first round will resume at 7am on Saturday.

Van Der Klis will do so with a one-stroke lead over Samuel Simpson, who has nine holes to complete, and Christiaan Burke, who has three holes to play.

Van Der Klis, who played his college golf at Augusta University, was still fresh in his professional career this year when he won on the Betway Big Easy Tour.

Australia’s Austin Bautista is also well in contention on three under par with nine holes to play and looking for back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour after his victory in last week’s Sunbet Challenge Wild Coast Sun.

Gabrielle Venter and Kelsey Nicholas are the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals on level par through nine holes.

A two-day pro-am preceded the main professional tournament, with local Gowrie Farm member Colin Hardie claiming victory on 85 points after playing with Sunshine Tour professional Warwick Purchase on day one and then Dylan Mostert on day two, and qualifying for the Vodacom Origins of Golf Pro-Am Final at Pezula in November.

“This was my first experience of the Vodacom Origins of Golf and it was absolutely humbling to see just how good the Sunshine Tour professionals are and to spend two days inside the ropes with them. I was blown away by the experience,” he said. – Michael Vlismas Media

Former Springbok Odwa Ndungane says that beating the All Blacks in New Zealand remains one of the highlights of his rugby career, and that playing a round at Augusta National Golf Club – home of The Masters – would probably be the equivalent of that experience for him.

Speaking as a guest of the Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Pro-Am series at the Gowrie Farm Lodge & Golf Course this week, Ndungane shared his thoughts on Saturday’s second Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Wellington.

“Playing the All Blacks is the one game that every Springbok player looks forward to. When you get a chance to play them twice at home like they will do now, it’s even more special. The rivalry between these two teams makes it so hard to get back-to-back wins because it means so much to both sets of players,” said Ndungane, who was part of a special group of Springboks in 2009 who did indeed beat the All Blacks in New Zealand on their way to what was then the Tri-Nations crown.

“That was very special. You know, I’ve also had the privilege of speaking to Gary Player, and he’s told me about Augusta National Golf Club and the experience of playing there. To play golf there would be incredible and probably be top of my golf Bucket List, just as beating the All Blacks in New Zealand was for me in rugby.”

Ndungane also believes Saturday’s Test will go the way of the Springboks.

“We’ve made a few changes to the team and many people might think New Zealand are the favourites. But I believe these Springboks that have been given a chance now have a point to prove, and I think they could sneak a win.” – Michael Vlismas

The Sunshine Tour’s most recent champion once walked away from being Australia’s number-one ranked amateur and a promising professional career to do humanitarian aid work in developing and war-torn countries for two years.

Austin Bautista’s thinking was simple. “Golf is just focused on yourself. I’d seen a lot of people struggling in the world through poverty or natural disasters or drugs, and I wanted to focus on others and help,” says the 28-year-old Australian, who last week became a winner on the Sunshine Tour for the first time and who takes that form into this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Gowrie Farm Lodge and Golf Course in KwaZulu-Natal.

After disappearing from golf for two years, cutting himself off from social media and all contact with his former life as he embarked on global volunteer work, Bautista made his return to professional golf in 2020.

“I didn’t intend to come back to golf to be honest. I was going to continue doing volunteer work. But I realised that if I could be successful in golf, I’d maybe have a more global platform to help people.”

It seems apt now after his victory that his first professional tournament back was the 2020 South African Open, where he finished tied 40^th. Now playing the Sunshine Tour fulltime this year, his season has been built around finishes of second in the FBC Zim Open, tied eighth in the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge and tied third in the Sunbet Challenge Time Square, before winning last week’s Sunbet Challenge Wild Coast Sun.

Bautista is currently second on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit standings and has plans to finish first at the end of the season and claim every single incentive and opportunity the Tour offers to take his career to the next level internationally.

“It’s been pretty good so far, and after the win I’m enjoying it even more out here.”

Bautista says his victory feels like he’s come full circle in South Africa, where he did some volunteer work in the townships during his time away from the game.

“South African people are very spiritual and very home grown. They are focused on treating people nicely. They’re a very grateful people. There are a lot of good things about South Africa that don’t get promoted. It’s often just portrayed as a country of crime, but that’s not the truth. I’ve found it and its people to be beautiful.”

As much as he’s now playing great golf, Bautista is still focused on spreading the one message he believes strongly in – making life better for those around him.

“I’m an ambassador for the Drug-Free World campaign. I disagree strongly with drugs, whether prescription or street drugs. It’s pushed a lot on the kids in our society now, and we lose so many people to drugs. I’m an advocate for the 21 Precepts for better living. It’s just a simple guide to live better, and to treat people better.

“I’ve always been a very aware person, and I just believe that all people are born good. It’s important that we don’t get focused on all the bad things in life, and see how we can make it better. Whatever I do or say can rub off on someone’s day for the better or worse, so I just try to lead by example.” – Michael Vlismas