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PRETORIA – Thriston Lawrence and Jacques Blaauw both fired outstanding 10-under-par 62s to share the lead in a meeting of two of South African golf’s most in-form stars in the first round of the SunBet Challenge Times Square Casino at Wingate Park Country Club on Wednesday.

Lawrence, who is currently sixth on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, is back in South Africa to complete his rehabilitation from a back injury he suffered after the Open Championship a month ago. His first competitive round since then could barely have gone better as he plundered eight birdies and an eagle on the 6740m course in south-eastern Pretoria.

The winner of eight professional events, including four on the DP World Tour, was part of the morning field, while Blaauw, who is leading the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy and is eager to return full-time to the European tour, was off at 11.50am.

The 38-year-old Blaauw made a blazing start to his round as he set out to catch Lawrence, reaching the turn in six-under-par, which included an eagle on the 381m par-four sixth hole. Although he bogeyed the par-four 11^th, Blaauw finished strong with five birdies in the last seven holes.

“I’ve had four weeks off since hurting my back a bit at the Open and I’m not a big fan of hitting lots of balls on the range, so I felt playing this tournament would help my rehab more. And I love to compete,” Lawrence said.

“But I was still quite surprised how well it went because I’ve only played two practice rounds in the last few weeks, I didn’t expect 10-under. But the back is good and game is solid.

“I started on 10 and the eagle came on 18 after I hit a nice drive and had a good number for a nine-iron in; I hit it to three feet for a simple eagle. That got my momentum going, I had four birdies in a row to start the front nine, I was on fire,” Lawrence said.

Blaauw, who is enjoying his best season in nearly a decade with five successive top-10 finishes on the Sunshine Tour, including victory in the SunBet Challenge Sun City event, admitted the presence of Lawrence, and the fact he had shot 62, motivated him.

“What Thriston shot told me there was obviously a low score out there. I started quickly so I knew something was up. I’ve been playing good golf of late and it all came together today,” Blaauw said.

“When our DP World Tour stars play here you always want to beat them and Thriston has been playing some unbelievable golf lately. But I’ve showed I can play great golf at home, hopefully I can do the same elsewhere. Getting full status in Europe has been my plan from January and now it’s just about keeping things going.

“It’s about sticking to the processes, just letting it happen and not trying to force things. Just keep giving myself opportunities because the putter is working,” Blaauw said.

The six-time Sunshine Tour winner’s eagle came when he followed a 300m drive on the sixth with a 90m lob-wedge into the hole.

Another multiple winner on the DP World Tour, George Coetzee, is also making his way back from long-term injury, and he will certainly have a say in where the title goes this week as he shot an eight-under-par 64 on Wednesday.

Young Yurav Premlall also made his presence known with a 66, a score matched by Quintin Wilsnach.

Ryan van Velzen will make his debut in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024, as the face of a new generation of young South African professionals seeking to make their mark in ‘Africa’s Major’, with tickets and an exciting new luxury public hospitality option available to buy here…

Van Velzen secured his place in a stellar international field for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, in honour of Gary Player, thanks to a groundbreaking performance on the Sunshine Tour last season which saw him crowned the winner of the overall Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

The 22-year-old will join compatriots Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen as well as defending champion Max Homa from America amongst the early stars announced for this year’s tournament, in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International. The US$6million tournament is part of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing, which will be the first of five Global Swings on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

“It’s a privilege to have qualified to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and to be there with the best players in the world. I’ve been to the Nedbank Golf Challenge a few times with my dad and friends and I watched Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood win it,” said Van Velzen.

The rising star of South African golf is already a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and has earned himself a DP World Tour card for the 2025 season. This year he also made his Major debut in The PGA Championship and The Open.

“Winning the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy last season was amazing. I mean, to win against some of the top players in the country and to perform at that level for such a long season is a great achievement. It just gave me a sense of belonging and confidence,” said Van Velzen.

Over the years the Nedbank Golf Challenge has rewarded several of South Africa’s promising professionals with a place in the field thanks to their finishes of first on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, including Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Zander Lombard, Thriston Lawrence, George Coetzee and Ockie Strydom.

In addition to a strong field, fans will be further rewarded this year with a new luxury public Hospitali-TEE Lounge option which promises to take the normal day visitor experience to a new level 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…

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – Aspiring young golfers from the Pilgrim’s Rest region were given a unique opportunity to experience a professional tournament and receive coaching from Sunshine Tour professionals at the recent Vodacom Origins of Golf event held at the Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate in August.
 
The Vodacom’s Origins of Golf series is the longest running pro-am series on the Sunshine Tour. Wherever it is played in the country, Vodacom and the Sunshine Tour invite young golfers from the nearest South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB) chapter to a golf clinic.
 
Twenty-two youngsters between the ages of eight and 17 – many of them from Pilgrim’s Rest Primary School – took to the driving range at Highland Gate on Thursday 15 August to receive coaching from the Sunshine Tour professionals. And it was an experience they’ll never forget.
 
“I love sport, having played netball, volleyball and soccer, and I love seeing these children do it as well. To take them out of their location and allow them to see nature as beautiful as this – for some of them it is the first time – is wonderful. This is like a dream come true for them, because they have never been to a place like this before, they mostly don’t see things like this,” said Joyce Mabuye, a teacher at the Pilgrim’s Rest Primary School.
 
“This motivates them to do something good. I am constantly fighting for children to do something in sports because it keeps them away from the streets. So their parents are very supportive of them playing golf.”
 
The children were also fortunate to have two professionals from their hometown coaching them.
 
The Mashego brothers, Jastice and Austin, are both busy trying to further their own professional golf careers on the Sunshine Tour but were more than happy to give back to youngsters growing up where they did.
 
“Our father, Obed, was a keen golfer and a member at Pilgrim’s Rest Golf Club, so we took up the game. I was caddying for Jastice in the Vodacom Origins of Golf this week,” said Austin.
 
“I love assisting Jastice with the coaching. Being out here hitting balls helps to clear the minds of these youngsters.”
 
For Jastice, it is about providing an opportunity to dream. “Coming from a small town like Pilgrim’s Rest, there is not much opportunity for these kids and they don’t have role models. So now we can let them see what golf is all about. I hope to inspire them, to give them hope. Just travelling here will open their minds a bit.”
 
Monde Ngcukana, the Managing Executive for Vodacom Mpumalanga Region, was an appreciative onlooker at the coaching clinic, before enthusiastically hitting a few balls himself.
 
“It’s very important that these children are stimulated and given the chance to be active. This exclusive venue gives them something to aspire to, but making golf instruction more accessible for them is also a big plus. Vodacom wants to support the youth however we can, with a focus on education, which is why our data is zero-rated for those in Grade R to Grade 12.
 
“These clinics are part of an holistic approach to the growth of children in South Africa. With our Mum-and-Baby programme, we really do support children from the cradle. And it’s good to see them here.”

Jean Hugo added to his already illustrious history in the Vodacom Origins of Golf when he claimed a record 12^th victory on the series after beating Jonathan Broomhead by one stroke at the Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate on Sunday.

The 48-year-old Hugo birdied the par-five 18^th hole, thanks to a brilliant chip-shot, for a two-under-par 70 that left him on 13-under-par for the tournament. Broomhead’s fantastic final round of 65, which included nine birdies but a costly double-bogey on the par-four sixth hole, had lifted him to 12-under-par.

Overnight leader Louis de Jager was also on 12-under as he teed off with Hugo on the final hole, but he ended up making double bogey on 16 and then bogey on 18 to finish in a tie for third on 11-under.

Hugo clinched an astonishing 12^th victory on the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series, and his 20^th Sunshine Tour title overall. And he did so with a third shot on 18 that was a superb chip to a foot from the hole from the right of the green.

“Fortunately I hit a good drive and I was in two minds whether to lay up or go for the green with 216 metres to the flag. I took a chance and went over the water, hitting it on the other side of the sluit down the right with a gripped-down four-iron. I then hit a brilliant chip,” Hugo said.

“My best putt of the day was on 16 though, where we all struggled. Louis lost his ball and I had to hack out of the rough a couple of times, we were on the clock as well, and I sank a putt for bogey from more than 15 feet. And on 17 I made another clutch putt for par.

“We made it tough for ourselves with those stumbles and there was a bit of pressure. But I’ve been playing well lately, if I could just putt well then my scores would be even better. I used to be the best putter on tour, but now anything under 30 putts for a round is good. I was bogey-free the first two rounds and my first bogey today was on the ninth, so I was hitting the ball very well,” Hugo, who only had 27 putts on Sunday, said.

De Jager was in hot form on the front nine, going out in three-under, but he bogeyed the par-five 11^th and dropped two shots on the 16^th, before closing with another bogey, having hit his drive into the left rough.
Between 2006 and 2015, Hugo was probably the hottest golfer on the Sunshine Tour with 16 victories. But Sunday’s triumph was his first since 2019.

“To have 12 Vodacom Origins of Golf titles and 20 overall on the Sunshine Tour is what I’m most proud of. I got to 17 quite quickly, but then only won again in 2019 and then there was Covid and in 2020 I had a massive ankle operation.

“But I’ve been working hard and it’s nice to see the results. I can now aim to hit a certain shot and pull it off, it’s about technique and trust way more than just relying on talent. I’ve come close to winning these last few years, but I’m just delighted that I didn’t give it away today. As long as you fight out there, you can be happy,” Hugo said.

Luke Brown (70) and Kyle de Beer (71) shared third place with De Jager, while 20-year-old Gabrielle Venter shot an outstanding five-under-par 67 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 16^th on six-under-par, leading the way for the Sunshine Ladies Tour players.

Danielle du Toit (70) finished tied-29^th and Lora Assad (71) was in a share of 44^thplace.

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – The experienced Louis de Jager has fired rounds of 65 and 67 for 12-under-par in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Highland Gate Mpumalanga event, but he has no more than a one-shot lead after the second round on Saturday.

That’s because fellow veteran Jean Hugo, who has played in more than 450 Sunshine Tour events, has gone 66-67 for a score of 11-under-par heading into the final round.

Kyle de Beer, the leading rookie on tour this season, is one stroke further back on 10-under after shooting a 70 on Saturday, contending strongly in just his 25^thSunshine Tour event.

De Jager started his round on the 10^th and took a while to really find his range, but birdies on the par-four 16^th and par-five 18^th gave him a boost. His front nine was even better, even though he bogeyed the par-four first hole.

The 37-year-old birdied the par-three third hole and also picked up birdie threes on the sixth and ninth holes, but perhaps his best hole was the par-five fifth, which is more than 600 yards long and plays into the wind, but De Jager eagled it on Saturday.

It will not be an easy night’s sleep though for De Jager going into the final round of the R2 million event because there is a surfeit of quality within four shots of the lead.

Apart from Hugo and De Beer, Luke Brown is enjoying a very solid tournament and is on nine-under-par after rounds of 67 and 68. Jacques Blaauw is enjoying a top-class season, leading the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, and is tied for fifth on eight-under after notching a two-under-par 70 on Saturday.

Martin Rohwer, a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, and Nikhil Rama, a GolfRSA product who is a rising star in the senior ranks, are also on eight-under.

A trio of Sunshine Ladies Tour golfers made the cut, with Danielle du Toit (69) and Gabrielle Venter (72) tied for 35^th on one-under-par, and Lora Assad tied for 47^thon level-par.

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – Darkness fell over Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate at a crucial time for the leaders in the first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Mpumalanga event, with Louis Albertse, Kyle de Beer and Louis de Jager all within two shots of each other with three holes left when play was suspended on Friday.

The start of play was delayed on Friday morning due to frost on the greens, and although the weather soon improved into a lovely, warm sunny day, the backlog meant the last dozen threeballs were not able to finish their opening rounds.

But Albertse played some incredible golf in the 15 holes he did get in, storming to nine-under-par with seven birdies and an eagle on the par-five eighth hole. The three-time Sunshine Tour winner, who played some fine golf in winning the pro-am that preceded the R2 million professional event, was making a big move on the back nine before the sun set on his charge. Albertse birdied four of the first five holes after the turn.

De Beer, currently leading the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings, was on eight-under-par. The 26-year-old started his round on the 10^th and made a hat-trick of birdies from the 11^th hole, before bogeying the par-five 14^th. But De Beer bounced back superbly with an eagle on the par-five 18^th and further birdies on the second, fourth, fifth and sixth holes.

The experienced De Jager birdied four of his first five holes, with a bogey on the par-three third, and had just collected his second birdie of the back nine, on the 15^th, to go to seven-under-par when play was called off for the day.

Another seasoned campaigner, Jacques Blaauw, had a marvellous start to his round, going four-under after six holes. He could only collect two more birdies thereafter, but a six-under 66 was still enough for a share of the clubhouse lead and continues his stunning season thus far as he is top of the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

Nikhil Rama also shot a splendid 66, while it was also a good day for a quartet of up-and-coming stars in Kyle McClatchie, Englishman Joe Long, Luke Brown and Martin Rohwer, who all completed their rounds on five-under-par.

Three of the nine Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals who are competing in this Vodacom Origins of Golf Series event are in line to make the cut. Gabrielle Venter led the way for the women on Friday with a one-under-par 71, while Lora Assad was one-over and Danielle du Toit shot two-over 74.

The completion of the first round and the start of the second round will take place concurrently on Saturday, with the action resuming at 7.10am.

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – Vodacom Bulls legend Akona Ndungane is hardly surprised that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made a wholesale 10 changes to his starting line-up for their second Rugby Championship Test against Australia this weekend.

Speaking at this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf pro-am at the Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate Ndungane, an avid golfer who plays off a five handicap, said he believes the Springbok squad has advanced well in the development of their more attacking game, allowing Erasmus more flexibility in selection ahead of Saturday’s match against the Wallabies in Perth.

“I expected that sort of start last week because we have seen the game-plan they are trying to implement. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is in amazing form and starting at flyhalf allows him to free himself, to express himself. They all seem to be really enjoying their rugby at the moment. They beat Australia 33-7, but the Wallabies were fortunate not to concede fifty points the way the Springboks dominated first phase, defence and attack. Those yellow cards at the end helped them,” he said.

“But it’s no surprise Dr Rassie has made so many changes. He’s trying to build depth and give players quality opportunities to see if they can cope. When you’re in a good place then you’re able to make changes. And I don’t think this team is really any weaker than last weekend’s. I’m really looking forward to seeing Lukhanyo Am playing at 12. We saw how good he was in his comeback against Portugal, even though injury has unfortunately slowed him down a bit. It’s an exciting combination in the backline with Sacha, Lukhanyo and Jesse Kriel playing together.”

Equally exciting for Ndungane is teeing it up in his first Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament. The former Springbok thoroughly enjoyed his first experience of the longest running pro-am series on the Sunshine Tour.

“It’s wonderful. I love golf, both watching it and playing, and to be around the pros is really special. Just to be here at this beautiful course is amazing, especially for me, being my first time playing here. What an experience, especially with the wind blowing so hard it felt like the Western Cape or a coastal course. But our pros, Cara Gorlei and Keenan Davidse, were great company and I got to play with my mate
OG Molefe. So it was a great outing.”

DULLSTROOM (Mpumalanga) – The 2024 Vodacom Origins of Golf series tees off at the Highland Gate Golf and Trout Estate on Thursday with a strong field of Sunshine Tour stars, while several Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals will join them as they chase several new incentives this year.

There will be nine Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals who will also tackle this Ernie Els-designed course this week as they compete for the same prizemoney. But this year Vodacom and the Sunshine Tour have introduced an Order of Merit solely for the women professionals, the winner of which at the end of the series qualifies for a place in the Joburg Ladies Open and three Access Tour events on the Ladies European Tour.

The Vodacom Origins of Golf Series is held every year at some of South Africa’s finest golf clubs, grouping amateurs, leading business figures and Vodacom customers with some of the top players on the Sunshine Tour. Once the pro-am finishes on Thursday, the professional tournament will be held over three rounds from Friday, and the leading contenders are united in their belief that Highland Gate will pose a stern challenge, especially if the wind gets up.

“It’s a great course and hopefully the weather stays good because it is really tough here in the wind,” Neil Schietekat said on Thursday. “The greens are slopey and quick, and if you add strong winds to them then it becomes really tricky.”

“There are no giveaway birdies here, which is what I like on a course. You have to map your way around here, you can’t just hit-and-hope and then make an easy birdie. But I feel good about my game. I’ve found a bit of form and you know what they say, ‘be careful of the sleeping dog’,” Schietekat, who is coming off top-10 finishes in his last two Sunshine Tour events, said.

The Vodacom Origins of Golf Series also marks the return to action of one of the great gentlemen of the Sunshine Tour in George Coetzee, who last played competitively in May 2023 at the Italian Open on the
DP World Tour.

Coetzee underwent wrist surgery and, on a happier note, became a first-time father in the interim. He was his usual smiling self on the putting green on Thursday, although he acknowledged some daunting golf was ahead of him.

“It’s good to be back and the wrist is rustig [calm]. I’m just going to go out and try and enjoy myself, but if the wind is up again like Wednesday then I could be in for some torture,” Coetzee said.

Daniel van Tonder, the winner of the previous event on the Sunshine Tour, the FNB Eswatini Challenge at Nkonyeni Golf Estate, says the Highland Gate layout suits him well.

“It’s a great course in excellent condition, the greens are very quick and tricky. But I haven’t yet found a course where if I take driver and hit it long, far and straight, I won’t do well,” Van Tonder said.

Cara Gorlei, the winner of the Jabra Ladies Classic at Glendower in April, and Gabrielle Venter, who claimed the Standard Bank Ladies Open title at Royal Cape Golf Club in March, will lead the women’s charge.

KHOLWANE (Eswatini) – Daniel van Tonder clearly has an affinity for Eswatini. The South African professional won the FNB Eswatini Challenge by two strokes at the Nkonyeni Lodge and Golf Estate on Saturday to claim his third victory in the kingdom.

Van Tonder closed with a final round of 68 to win on 14 under par overall and collect his first victory on the Sunshine Tour since the 2021 South African Open Championship.

Yurav Premlell took second place on 12 under par with an impressive final round of 63, and Jason Roets finished third on 10 under par with a 73.

This is Van Tonder’s ninth Sunshine Tour title, but it’s his third in Eswatini after claiming his debut Sunshine Tour victory in the country in 2014 and then adding another here in 2020. He can also add a second place in 2012 to this list.

Van Tonder has been building towards this success following his finishes of eighth, fourth and 20^th in his previous three Sunshine Tour events.

He was level par through 12 holes of his final round and with Premlall busy putting together his magnificent 63 and challenging for his first Sunshine Tour title.

The young star birdied three of his first four holes as he went out in 30. He came home in 33 strokes and was leading on his own towards the end of his round before Van Tonder overtook him with two birdies and an eagle in his last six holes.

“That was quite something. I did everything I could to get myself into a winning position. I just gave myself chances the whole way through to see where I ended up,” Premlall said after claiming the highest finish of his Sunshine Tour career.

Kyle de Beer’s finish of fifth – his best on the Sunshine Tour this season – kept him at the top of the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.

The Sunshine Tour will have a week’s break before the start of the Vodacom Origins of Golf series from 16-18 August.