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SUN CITY (North West) – American Johannes Veerman celebrated a dream debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge with his one-stroke victory at the Gary Player Country Club after edging out South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter in a thrilling finish on Sunday.

Veerman closed with a 69 for a total of five under par, and then watched from the score recording area as Potgieter, finishing behind him and tied for the lead on five under, bogeyed the final hole.

“It’s surreal. I can now put on my Instagram that I’m the champion of ‘Africa’s Major’ – the fifth Major. This is a world-class event with world-class players here,” said a relieved Veerman who, as has become tradition here, was given a true African celebration as the golf course staff hoisted him and the trophy into the air and sang his praises.

“This week has been amazing. There was a function almost every night and they were great fun. We had fireworks, we had a dinner in the bush. It was amazing. And you didn’t just meet other golfers at the functions but also the community behind this tournament. I’m coming back for sure,” he said.

Veerman teed off the final round five shots adrift of the leader, Potgieter, who had the full support of the local fans behind him after being granted an invitation into this event by Gary Player, Sun International, Nedbank and the DP World Tour.

The 20-year-old South African seemed destined to add his name to the illustrious list of South Africans to have won here and held a one-stroke lead with four holes to play.

But the difficult closing stretch cost him as he bogeyed the par-three 16^th to be tied for the lead with Veerman, and then pushed his approach on 18 right of the green and made bogey from there.

“I was preparing for a playoff. I really was in the mindset I was going to go back out there and play again. When Aldrich made bogey on 18, I was almost thunderstruck. Aldrich is a world-class player and is going to do amazing things in his career. But the closing stretch of holes is so difficult out here. I knew if I could just par those I might have a chance,” said Veerman.

Potgieter signed for a 75 and shared second place with Matthew Jordan (72) and Romain Langasque (71) on four under par.

Earlier in the week, Veerman played a practice round and arrived on the 18^th green in awe of the grandstands.

“I thought, ‘Wow. Are there really going to be that many people here?’ And everybody showed up.”

They showed up to see the sixth American winner of this iconic tournament.

“I feel blessed and honoured to have won this trophy,” said Veerman.

SUN CITY (North West) – The 20-year-old Aldrich Potgieter is on the brink of a dream debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge as the young South African takes a three-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at the Gary Player Country Club.

Potgieter was given an invitation into this tournament by Gary Player and has grabbed the opportunity by taking the lead on seven under par following a bogey-free 66 on Saturday.

Italy’s Francesco Laporta and England’s Matthew Jordan are his nearest challengers. Laporta worked his way into contention with a third round of 69, while Jordan posted a 71 on another hot and windy day.

Defending champion Max Homa will start the final round four shots off the lead following a 72.

Potgieter was delighted with his performance in a tournament he admits he was just hoping to use to gain experience before embarking on his PGA Tour career next season.

“I didn’t expect to come here and win. I was just trying to use it as a learning curve, and obviously if you do get the win it’s a really big bonus. A win here would mean everything to me. It would be a dream come true. But I’m just trying to hit one shot at a time and we’ll see how the final round goes,” he said.

Potgieter started strong in Saturday’s third round with two birdies in his first four holes and then made another push with two birdies over the turn. He then drove home his advantage with an eagle on the par-five 14^th hole.

“I played some good golf and had a lot of big par saves. With the eagle, I was aiming for middle of the green. I hit the ball a little more right but I knew the wind was there, and when I looked up I knew it was going at the hole. I’m quite happy with the result.”

The young South African was also loving every minute of the home support he was given on Saturday, especially after spending most of the last few years developing his career in America where he played on the Korn Ferry Tour before securing his playing privileges on the PGA Tour.

“It was a great day. I loved the crowd out there and it was awesome to have a pretty big crowd following us. You miss home when you’re in a new country. To have some family here as well is great. I’m just really happy and will try and do the same on the final day.”

It will indeed be a big day for Potgieter as he seeks to write his name into Nedbank Golf Challenge history and become the first South African champion since 2017.

SUN CITY (North West) – Frenchman Julien Guerrier will take a one-stroke lead into the weekend of the Nedbank Golf Challenge after a day when the Gary Player Country Club course charged back at the field like an angry elephant bull.

A combination of intense heat, firm greens and tricky winds turned Friday’s second round into a stern test.

Guerrier managed to make the best of a tough day with his 68 to lead on five under par overall. He is one stroke clear of fellow Frenchman Romain Langasque, who signed for a 70, and South Africa’s Ockie Strydom, who posted a 73.

Defending champion Max Homa was amongst the leaders and at one stage held the sold lead before dropping four shots over his final three holes with back-to-back double bogeys on 16 and 17 for a 75. But he is still only two shots off the lead.

It was a day when most of those near the top of the leaderboard considered whatever they shot some of the best golf they have played.

“It’s a privilege to shoot under par here in the tough conditions we had,” said Guerrier. “I’m very pleased I made a lot of birdies. I love to play this golf course, but it’s very difficult to keep a clean card here. You had to just stay patient. You know you’re going to make mistakes out there, and so is everybody else. But it’s difficult because you can hit some good shots and get the wind gusts at the wrong time, like I did on 17 and went in the water. But it’s part of this golf course.”

Even for someone like Strydom, who has played this course more than most in the field in the Sunshine Tour events here over the years, Friday was a grind.

“It wasn’t easy out there. The wind was all over the place. At a stage it was almost a two-club wind on the back nine. It was a total grind out there.”

And Langasque, who loves this course and has always played well in South Africa, described his second round of 70 as his best round this year.

“It was a very good score. It played tough with the firm greens. If you shot under par today you played very well.”

SUN CITY (North West) – Max Homa began the defence of his Nedbank Golf Challenge title in the same way he ended it last year – at the top of the leaderboard.

The six-time PGA Tour champion birdied his first three holes and opened with a six-under-par 66 to lead the first round by a single stroke over South Africa’s Ockie Strydom.

Homa did drop two shots on the back nine, but then finished strong with birdies at 17 and 18 to give him the confidence that what he’s been working on with his swing combined with his love for this tournament is coming together very nicely this week.

“I haven’t played a tournament in a while and I’ve been working on a lot of new things so it felt really good to come out and birdie the first three holes. I felt really comfortable with the golf swing. As far as first rounds defending my title, it’s definitely one I’ll remember,” said Homa.

A day of intense heat and the traditionally fickle winds on this golf course tested the 66-man field on day one.

“It was really tricky with the wind. It threw us for a bit of a loop but I thought I did a really good job of adjusting to it. Overall I did a good job of playing within myself and not hitting shots I don’t really love to hit. You come to a golf course like this where you cannot fake it off the tee. You have to hit good tee shots here.

“I was a little sloppy on the back nine but I still liked the way I was swinging it. I’m very happy with the last two holes because those are two difficult holes so to make birdie there was great. There’s a long way to go but it’s really cool to see some more good golf here.”

Behind him, Strydom feels equally comfortable on a course he’s played countless rounds of golf on in Sunshine Tour events here.

“It’s good to be back home. I love it here. I know the golf course and it’s looking great. This is Africa’s Major. All the South Africans dream of playing here, so just to be here is something special.”

Strydom was particularly impressive on the par fives, highlighted by his eagle on the 14^th.

“You have to score on the par fives here. The par fours and par threes are tricky, so to be minus four on the par fives is decent. But overall, I’ve been struggling with injuries so to be pain free and out there competing again is very pleasant.”

The Gary Player Country Club course is ready to welcome 66 of the world’s top professionals for this week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, with defending champion Max Homa leading one of the strongest fields in recent history as they battle it out for glory in ‘Africa’s Major’ at Sun City from December 5-8, 2024.

Homa, who last year became one of the few players in the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to win on debut, forms part of a strong field of DP World Tour, PGA Tour, Sunshine Tour, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Olympic Games stars gathered for this year’s tournament.

“I’ve been looking forward to coming back here. It’s been great to be the defending champion of this tournament, and to see my name alongside all the others on the walkway up to the ninth green. The ground staff lifting me in the air after my win was quite incredible. I’ve been telling everybody how great this event is, and I’m happy to be back,” said Homa.

The American is seeking to become the eighth player in the history of the tournament to successfully defend his title, and the first American to do so since Jim Furyk in 2005 and 2006.

The world number 35 is joined by fellow American Will Zalatoris as well as the Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.

“This is my first time in South Africa and I’m looking forward to a great experience here this week. I’m really excited to be here, to travel to a new place and meet new people. I’ve heard so many great things from fellow players on the PGA Tour like Max about this event and South Africa, so it’s a place I really wanted to come to,” said Conners.

Hughes is just as excited to make his debut in this event. “I received the invitation from Gary Player and am honoured to be able to play here. I’ve seen some wildlife on the golf course which has been great. Monkeys on the golf course is not something we see every day on the PGA Tour.”

This year’s field includes half of the top 20 players on last season’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings.

Thriston Lawrence, the world number 47, leads a strong local challenge that also features Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Erik van Rooyen, Dylan Frittelli, Ockie Strydom and Brandon Stone, while Ryan van Velzen, Robin Williams and Aldrich Potgieter are all experiencing their first taste of a tournament they grew up watching.

They are all seeking to become the first home winner of ‘Africa’s Major’ since Branden Grace in 2017.

“It’s been an unbelievable year for me. I didn’t win but had five second places and a top five in The Open, and it’s still been one of my best seasons,” said Lawrence.

“I’m growing as a golfer and person and becoming more comfortable on tour. Playing with big names like in this event makes you more comfortable just by placing yourself in those situations, and that makes you a better golfer. We have a few tournaments on the Sunshine Tour that we play here, so just knowing the golf course gives you that feeling of calmness out there. It definitely gives you that home advantage.”

Van Rooyen is still driven to win a tournament of which he has fond childhood memories. “I came here as a kid a few times. I watched Ernie (Els) win it once, and watched him lose to Sergio (Garcia) in a playoff. Every time I play here it’s extremely special. Watching this event my whole life, it’s the trophy you want to win as a South African.”

Bezuidenhout is back at a Gary Player Country Club where he won the South African Open in 2020.

“I’ve always liked this golf course. You have to drive it straight here, which is a strong part of my game. I have fond memories here, so hopefully I can tick the box with the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week. I remember coming here for the first time in 2003 as an eight-year-old boy. I always dreamt of playing in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, so it’s always a privilege to come back here now as a player.”

Gary Player will take up his usual position on the first tee box on Thursday, welcoming some of the world’s best players to a tournament that remains very special to him.

“I’m always in awe when I come back to Sun City. I’d like to thank everybody who has played a vital role in this tournament. Golf gives South Africa more publicity than any other sport. We have great golf ambassadors, and last year Max won and spoke so highly of South Africa.”

Charl Schwartzel has confirmed he will return to Leopard Creek this month in search of a record fifth Alfred Dunhill Championship title, adding his name to a glittering array of stars that will walk the fairways of South Africa’s number one ranked golf course from 12-15 December.

The 2011 Masters champion will join defending champion Louis Oosthuizen in a field that includes eight of the last 13 champions of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek along with Ockie Strydom, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Pablo Larrazabal, Brandon Stone, Richard Sterne and Alvaro Quiros.

PGA Tour winners Erik van Rooyen and Dylan Frittelli as well as multiple DP World Tour champions Thriston Lawrence and Dean Burmester, and rising star Aldrich Potgieter, who has just secured his PGA Tour card for the new season, add to the impressive line-up this year.

The 20-year-old Chinese sensation Wenyi Ding will make his debut in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

And South Africa’s Altin van der Merwe returns to Leopard Creek where he made history by becoming the first winner of the inaugural Africa Amateur Championship in February this year, after which he later turned professional.

But amongst them all, Schwartzel will be more motivated than ever to add to his already incredible history in this tournament and at this golf course.

Schwartzel already has four Alfred Dunhill Championship titles to his name and still owns the record tournament total of 24 under par and the biggest margin of victory of 12 strokes.

But perhaps even more significant is that he has now finished runner-up five times in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament. His most recent second place was last year when he pushed close friend Oosthuizen right until the final hole before finishing two strokes behind him.

“For me, growing up in South Africa and being privileged to grow up on a farm, I was around big space my whole life. I grew to love nature a lot. Our weekend getaways were always to the bushveld. Everybody has their place they go where they get that calming effect and where you feel like you’re alone in the world. To me the bush does that to me. I love the sounds and the smells. It gives me a lot of peace,” said Schwartzel.

“So that’s why Leopard Creek is so special to me. There is no setting like it in the world – to play golf on the edge of the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park. It doesn’t get much better than that.” – Michael Vlismas

The Sunshine Tour is headed for one of the most thrilling season conclusions in its history, with the announcement of the new DNi Tour Championship at The Club at Steyn City as the final tournament of the season and the final event on the new The Courier Guy Playoffs series.

The R3 million DNi Tour Championship will take place at The Club at Steyn City from 27-30 March 2025 and will feature the top 50 professionals on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, delivered by The Courier Guy, competing for overall season honours as well exemptions into the Majors.

DNi is one of South Africa’s leading investment firms in distribution and technology, with a strong global network in 32 countries. The DNi sponsorship will give South Africa’s top performing professionals everything to play for at the end of the current 2024/25 season.

“DNi is thrilled to be partnering with the Sunshine Tour through the new DNi Tour Championship,” said Dr Ryan Noach, DNi Group Chief Executive Officer.

“Partnering with the best, in this case the leaders of professional golf in South Africa, allows us to expose our employees, our customers and our suppliers to a sport that attracts leaders of industry, and to create lasting memories with them through this unique event.”

Apart from the limited field vying for the attractive R3 million purse, the DNi Tour Championship will also decide the outcome of the final Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.

Upon conclusion of the DNi Tour Championship, the top three professionals on the final Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy will all receive DP World Tour cards for the following season.

The first-place finisher on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy will also receive exemptions into the Nedbank Golf Challenge as well as two Majors – The Open Championship and US PGA Championship – and a R500 000 cash bonus. Second place will earn a R200 000 cash bonus, while the third-place finisher will earn a R100 000 bonus.

“The Sunshine Tour offers a very strong and appealing platform for us to create even greater brand recognition for ourselves and unique exposure for our customers,” said Noach.

“This partnership through the DNi Tour Championship is wholly aligned to what we do. It’s a highly collaborative event, coming at the top end of The Courier Guy Playoffs series, and at the pinnacle of the Sunshine Tour.

“The Sunshine Tour and DNi share a strong strategic alignment around greatness. The Sunshine Tour believes Greatness Begins Here on their fairways. We similarly believe greatness lies in the founders of the businesses that we invest behind. We support these founders and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, providing financial and strategic across a collaborative ecosystem.”

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome on board DNi as the sponsor of the DNi Tour Championship. DNi as a company has a core philosophy about people and creating opportunities to unlock their inherent greatness that is strongly aligned with our own philosophy that greatness in golf begins on our fairways.”

“DNi are the perfect partner for our season ending event, and the culmination of The Courier Guy Playoffs series as a company that sees value in aligning with the best of our best professionals, and being passionate about not only rewarding them but creating further opportunities for them as well.

“The DNi Tour Championship will result in the most significant end to our Sunshine Tour season that we have had in recent years, and we have no doubt that our fans are going to love what they see that week.”

ST FRANCIS LINKS, Eastern Cape – For the first 36 holes, Pieter Moolman was fighting to make the cut. Over the next 36 holes, Moolman was fighting to win the South African PGA Championship, sponsored by African Bank.

The Benoni golfer capped off a weekend to remember with a one-stroke victory in this prestigious championship, adding his name to a trophy that already bears the names of Gary Player, Ernie Els, Nick Price, Mark McNulty, David Frost, Dale Hayes and many of the other greats of Southern African golf.

Starting the final round three strokes off the lead, Moolman played composed golf and produced a bogey-free 67 to win on 15 under par and go one better than his second place here in 2021.

The 22-year-old Barend Botha, who was one shot off the lead going into the final round, held the lead on his own with a strong front nine. But three bogeys on the tricky back nine gave him a 70 and second place on 14 under par as he came up inches short for birdie on the last to force a playoff with Moolman.

Trevor Fisher Jnr. overcame a double-bogey start and signed for a 70 to take third place on 11 under par, while Senekal settled for fourth on 10 under par with a closing 75.

It was a weekend Moolman will not forget soon as he looked up at the leaderboard from making the cut on the number of par on Friday, and then played the next 36 holes in superb fashion including a course record 62 on Saturday.

“This would’ve been hard to believe after the first two rounds. I didn’t really feel like I was playing well, but then I had a good fight for it over the weekend and here we are,” said Moolman.

“There are some big names on this trophy. I came close a few years ago. To shoot the course record on Saturday and then to win the trophy today, I feel amazing.”

Botha certainly announced himself as a future star of the Sunshine Tour and now has two top-10s in his last two tournaments.

But it was Moolman’s composure on especially the back nine at St Francis Links that really made the difference.

“This golf course is tricky. We didn’t have the normal wind on the final day and the back nine played really tough. The par saves are crucial around here. I wasn’t really watching the leaderboard. I think I saw it on 15 and 16, but from there on it’s just golf. You need to hit the shot you have in front of you and hope for the best. I’m just thankful I did it,” he said.

The South African PGA Championship was also proudly supported by the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA), the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, the Kouga Local Municipality, Momentum and Cape St Francis Resort.

ST FRANCIS LINKS, Eastern Cape – JJ Senekal will be chasing a place in the history of the South African PGA Championship, sponsored by African Bank, as he takes a one-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at St Francis Links.

Senekal signed for a 68 on Saturday to lead on 13 under par, one stroke clear of Barend Botha, who posted a 70. CJ du Plessis is currently third on 11 under par following a 70 of his own.

Pieter Moolman produced a course record 62, including a front nine of 29, and with not a single bogey on his card to climb to 10 under par overall. Even more impressive is that Moolman had made the halfway cut on the mark of par before his course record on Saturday, and he left the golf course and immediately treated himself to a shot of The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

It will be an intriguing final round, with some wind expected to test the field.

Senekal tees off with the experience of having won three times, including on the European Challenge Tour. He also has fond memories of St Francis Links having won his first Sunshine Tour title here in 2013, and he finished third in the South African PGA Championship in 2014. His performance this week in particular has been a much-needed boost in confidence following his struggles with injury over the past few months.

But behind him, the future of South African golf is also lining up a possible place alongside some of the legends on this trophy.

Botha impressed all with his two victories on the PGA Tour Americas this year, which has earned him playing privileges on the Korn Ferry Tour. The 22-year-old came into this week with a sixth-place finish in last week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf at Oubaai, and clearly has the mental fortitude to manage a final round battle on this stage. He started his third round with a double bogey six on the first and managed to regroup thereafter to remain in contention.

Wynand Dingle, who led the tournament for two days, had a difficult day on Saturday. Dingle dropped to seven under par overall with a third round of 76, including an eight on the par-five 13^th hole.

The South African PGA Championship is also proudly supported by the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA), the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, the Kouga Local Municipality, Momentum and Cape St Francis Resort.

ST FRANCIS LINKS, Eastern Cape – Wynand Dingle held onto his lead in the South African PGA Championship, sponsored by African Bank, at St Francis Links on Friday and heads into the weekend determined to put his intense hard work over the past few months to good use.

Dingle signed for a second round of 68 to lead the field on 11 under par. The son of the Karoo is one stroke clear of young star Barend Botha and multiple Sunshine Tour winner Rourke van der Spuy. Botha produced a magnificent 64 on Friday, while Van Der Spuy posted a 66.

Dingle has been here before in his career. He led the 2014 South African PGA Championship by three strokes going into the weekend. This time, he’s determined to use his experience and add his name to the illustrious list of champions in this tournament.

“My game feels good, the swing feels good, and I’m hitting the ball well,” he said.

“I’m putting well. I made a change to my putting grip a week ago and I feel confident. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

But it’s the hours and hours of practice Dingle has put in which he feels is now showing the greatest reward.

“I’ve worked so hard over the past few months, and it’s beginning to pay back now. I worked on my putting in particular and took a bit of advice from here and there on this aspect of my game. So I feel good. This is such a prestigious tournament and there are so many great names on this trophy. I’d love to add mine to that list as well.”

Behind him, Botha is certainly showing his potential. He finished sixth in last week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Oubaai and is now firmly in contention going into the weekend at St Francis Links.

And JJ Senekal remains in contention as well just two shots off the lead on nine under par. Senekal’s second round of 68 was a morale booster for a professionals who’s battled his way back from injury. And clearly he’s drawing on the memories of returning to a St Francis Links course where he won his first Sunshine Tour event in 2013, and to an SA PGA Championship in which he finished third in 2014.

“It’s a good feeling and this is a place I like. I always play decent around here. The last year-and-a-half has been a challenging time with injury but I’ve fought through it. It’s a grind but we all know that and we’re all up for it. It’s part of the journey of where we want to get to. It’s an honour to be where I am right now and it would be an even greater honour to get my name on that trophy,” he said.

The South African PGA Championship is also proudly supported by the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA), the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, the Kouga Local Municipality, Momentum and Cape St Francis Resort. – Michael Vlismas