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JOHANNESBURG – This week’s Jonsson Workwear Open at Glendower Golf Club has taken on even greater significance with the announcement by The R&A of its exemption categories for The 152^nd Open at Royal Troon in July.

A new exemption will offer players competing on the Sunshine Tour, Asian Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, and the PGA Tour of Australasia the opportunity to qualify through the International Federation Ranking list. The leading five golfers on the International Federation Ranking list as of the closing date of entries will be awarded places in The Open. This would include the winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy who has met the qualification criteria of tournaments played on the Sunshine Tour and who is also currently not exempt for The Open.

The Jonsson Workwear Open is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour and is the final such co-sanctioned tournament of the current Sunshine Tour season, and therefore another vital opportunity for this week’s field to try and secure a place in The Open.

The Joburg Open offers another opportunity as part of the Official Qualifying Series for The Open. The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour alliance provides another pathway to The Open through the top 30 on the final Race to Dubai Ranking for 2023.

The added exemption category announced this week is another major endorsement of the opportunities that exist on the Sunshine Tour through events such as the Jonsson Workwear Open.

“You see so many players on the Sunshine Tour getting onto the main DP World Tour and winning and going on to do really well. The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour alliance is a great pathway for the Sunshine Tour professionals. Obviously the standard here is really good. The courses are also always good in South Africa,” said English professional Jordan Smith.

“It’s massive,” added South Africa’s Robin Williams, who has been challenging for a maiden DP World Tour title in these co-sanctioned tournaments of late.

“It first comes down to the Sunshine Tour and the product they give us as players each week. That prepares our game for the next level in the co-sanctioned tournaments. There have been players on the Sunshine Tour this season that have also done really well in DP World Tour events.”

The four-day Jonsson Workwear Open will be televised live on SuperSport.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the Jonsson Workwear Open online at www.sunshinetour.com

JOHANNESBURG – The Jonsson Workwear Open and Glendower Golf Club hold fond memories for several of the professionals competing in this week’s Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event, which is also the final co-sanctioned tournament in South Africa this season.

Germany’s Nick Bachem returns as the defending champion after making his DP World Tour breakthrough with victory in this event last year, when it was played at Steyn City.

“I’m super excited to be back even if it’s a different golf course. But having had a look at Glendower it looks pretty nice. It feels good to come back to a tournament where you have a positive feeling and I’ll be trying to repeat it,” said Bachem.

He comes into this week in good form after finishing tied fourth in last week’s SDC Championship.

“I’ve had a great season with so many good things to learn. I played nice last week so I’ve got a lot of confidence coming into this week. But my focus is still the same as it was last year when I won – play golf and have fun,” he said.

South Africa’s Robin Williams also had good memories as he drove through the Glendower Golf Club gates, having won his first Sunshine Tour title here in the Fortress Invitational last October.

“You have to play well around this course. There is no hiding here. It’s definitely a driver golf course – if you drive the ball well you can score. That’s what worked for me when I won here last year – my driving was good,” said Williams.

He returns to Glendower having narrowly lost a playoff for a maiden DP World Tour title in last week’s SDC Championship, but still confident about the week to come.

“There are a lot of positives from last week. Yes it was a shame I couldn’t get the job done, but my time will come. I’m playing good consistent golf and I’m happy to be back at a golf course that suits me and where I’ve had success.”

And England’s Jordan Smith is back at a golf course where he finished third in the 2017 BMW South African Open, missing out by only one shot on a spot in the playoff between Rory McIlroy and Graeme Storm.

“That was back in 2017 but it only feels like yesterday. It’s great being back and enjoying those good memories. This is a challenging golf course off the tee. You hit a lot of driver here and it can get pretty narrow in places. The wind that blew in the pro-am could be interesting, especially for us Europeans getting used to the altitude here in Johannesburg.”

This is the third edition of a tournament that has travelled to some of South Africa’s leading golf courses, starting with Durban Country Club then Steyn City and now Glendower Golf Club.

“We are delighted to bring the third edition of the tournament to the highly rated Glendower Golf Club and look forward to building on the success of our two previous events. We’re grateful for the opportunity to welcome world-class golf talent and spectators to another showcase of fantastic golf set against the backdrop of the beautiful Glendower Golf Club. And of course, an opportunity for us to promote peak performance on and off the course. As always, we value the time we get to spend here in Gauteng where we operate nine of our stores and our state-of-the-art Distribution Centre,” said the Chairman and CEO of Jonsson Workwear, Nick Jonsson.

“The Jonsson Workwear Open has been an immensely valuable addition to our schedule of DP World Tour co-sanctioned events. This year signifies another important milestone for this tournament as it will be played at a championship layout such as Glendower that holds an illustrious place in South African golf, having witnessed some of the finest moments in Sunshine Tour history. It’s a privilege for us as the Sunshine Tour to work with a brand that is equally forward-thinking and focused on the kind of excellence that golf in this country represents, and which helps us in taking the message that #GreatnessBeginsHere to the world,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

The four-day tournament will be televised live on SuperSport.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the Jonsson Workwear Open online at www.sunshinetour.com

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – America’s Jordan Gumberg claimed a thrilling victory in the SDC Championship at St Francis Links on Sunday when he beat South Africa’s Robin Williams in a playoff.

Gumberg and Williams finished regulation play tied for the lead on 12 under par following their respective final rounds of 68 and 69.

On a day when the wind of the previous three days gave way to rain, Williams had seemed destined to claim the victory as he held a two-shot lead over the American with two holes to play.

However, the South African found the greenside bunker on the par-three 17^th and made a double bogey from a plugged lie to slip back into a tie for the lead with Gumberg.

They both parred the par-four 18^th as the first playoff hole. Gumberg then birdied the hole on the second attempt to claim his maiden DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour title.

“I’m so thankful to be standing here,” said Gumberg at the end of a dramatic final round.

“Coming down the last couple of holes there is always a point where it feels like it’s slipped away from you. It felt like that for me. So I’m just thankful to be standing here.”

Frenchman David Ravetto took third place on 10 under par with a final round of 70.

The win changes Gumberg’s plans significantly. Before this he was a European Challenge Tour golfer unable to plan his schedule.

“It means everything. I never really got this far in my dreams. It’s what we work so hard for every single day. To my family back home – my dad has put so much into my golf game. It means the world to all of us,” he said while holding back the tears. – Michael Vlismas

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Daniel Brown will take a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the SDC Championship at St Francis Links, with Robin Williams leading the lone South African challenge two strokes off the lead.

On another day when the wind made for a few extra conversations between player and caddie, Syme controlled his ball flight superbly as he signed for a third round of 67. Alongside him, Brown went into the round with a three-stroke lead and birdied the first to suggest it was going to be all his day. But two bogeys on the front nine and then a difficult stretch of three bogeys in four holes from the turn brought him back to the field. He fought back with three birdies thereafter for a solid 72. They both lead on 11 under par.

Syme summed up just how difficult the changing winds here are when he said, “It’s like playing a different golf course entirely”.

Yet he managed it superbly as he put himself in a position to finally claim a DP World Tour victory after coming close several times. It was a round in which he also won himself a four-night MSC luxury cruise as part of the Sunshine Tour’s Beat the Pro competition, offering amateurs the chance to see if they can hit it closer to the pros in their group on the par-three 15^th. With no amateur able to do so, Syme earned the prize as the closest pro on the hole.

“I putted really nicely today. It’s always tricky in the breeze to judge your pace but I did that well today. It was also all about controlling your ball flight and you’ve got to shape your ball both ways around here. I’m really happy with how I did that today.”

Syme, who finished in the top 20 in this event last year, said he’s under no illusions as to the challenge that awaits on Sunday.

“The conditions are so tricky and there are so many great golfers here that it’s going to be tight until the finish on Sunday. But I was here last year and earmarked it as having another go at it this year. It’s a very similar links challenge to back home in Scotland. I’m taking it as it comes and looking forward to the challenge.”

England’s Andy Sullivan, American James Nicholas and South Africa’s Williams are their nearest challengers on nine under par. Williams had worked himself to within one shot of the lead before a bogey at the last. – Michael Vlismas

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – It’s been a tale of two winds through 36 holes of this year’s SDC Championship at St Francis Links, and they’ve both blown favourably for England’s Daniel Brown as he heads into the weekend with a three-stroke lead in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event.

With the wind switching completely from the first round, Brown was still able to negotiate his way into the lead on 11 under par with a second round of 67.

It’s been a remarkable performance considering his late arrival to the tournament after missing his flight and going straight into this event without a practice round.

“I didn’t expect it. Maybe I should do it more often,” he said of his unusual preparation for this week.

His nearest challengers are South Africa’s Robin Williams and Shaun Norris on eight under par following their respective second rounds of 67 and 71.

The switch in wind caught many in the field off guard, with Pieter Moolman going from sharing the first-round lead to fighting to make the cut.

Even Brown had a double-bogey on his card on Friday. “It was a completely opposite wind so it took a bit of getting used to,” he said.

“Holes that were easy yesterday were really tricky today. As soon as you play two or three shots you realise it’s going to be a completely different challenge. I managed to scrap it around a bit in places and hang on. So you just take it one hole at a time and figure it out from there.”

Having been one shot off the lead going into the second round, Brown seemed to really click late on his second nine when he finished his day with an eagle and two birdies in his final four holes.

“I had a really good finish. I’ve played really good the last two days but something really clicked in that

stretch where I kept hitting it close which is nice.”

Brown enjoys the St Francis Links layout and finished in the top 10 in this tournament last year, and he’s looking forward to a weekend where he has a shot at a second DP World Tour title.

“Matt Baldwin (2023 champion) was miles ahead last year so there was no chance of catching him. I’ve always felt comfortable on this golf course so hopefully that continues into the weekend.”

Behind him, both Williams and Norris are equally confident of the challenge to come.

“I enjoy this course and I’m getting used to what I need to do to put myself in contention in these events. I’m playing good consistent golf so we’ll see where it puts us,” said Williams.

“It wasn’t easy out there and you needed a lot of patience, but it turned out nicely. The putter is working nicely so let’s see,” added Norris. – Michael Vlismas

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – South Africa’s Pieter Moolman and Shaun Norris successfully negotiated a tricky day at St Francis Links to share the lead in Thursday’s first round of the SDC Championship following their rounds of seven-under-par 65.

The wind was an ever-present reality on day one, with only the severity changing throughout the day.

Although they played at opposite ends of the draw, both Moolman and Norris started their rounds equally strong.

Moolman holed out for eagle at the first and made two birdies thereafter, while Norris opened with three straight birdies.

“It was a dream start,” Moolman said, and one which reflected his love for this Jack Nicklaus layout.

“I like this golf course. It’s one of my favourites in South Africa and I always look forward to playing it. On the first hole I just hit a really good second shot, but where the flag is you can’t really see much, so I figured it was close and when I got up there it was in the hole. I’m very happy with that start.”

Norris was just as pleased with his start to this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event.

“I’m pretty happy with everything. I’m hitting the ball nicely. The conditions weren’t easy but I handled it well. I just hit the ball well, gave myself great opportunities and took advantage of those. But I always love coastal conditions. It just sort of balances out the field because it’s about who controls the ball the best. So I’m happy with where I’m standing.”

Their nearest challenger is England’s Daniel Brown whose 66 was a remarkable effort considering he only arrived at St Francis Links late on Wednesday and had no practice round before going out early on Thursday morning.

“I missed my flight on Monday in Frankfurt and couldn’t fly till Tuesday night. I only arrived at the golf course at about 4:30pm on Wednesday and went straight to the physios. So it wasn’t the best preparation but, it’s a crazy game,” he said.

South Africans Wilco Nienaber and Malcolm Mitchell as well as Germany’s Nick Bachem and Scotland’s Connor Syme all finished the day on five under par. – Michael Vlismas

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – Zander Lombard knows that Rory McIlroy will be tough to catch at the top of the DP World Tour’s International Swing standings with two tournaments left, but the South African heads into the next two weeks on home soil more than ready for that challenge.

This week’s SDC Championship, which tees off at St Francis Links on Thursday, and next week’s Jonsson Workwear Open, both co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour, will complete the DP World Tour’s eight-tournament International Swing and with it the cash bonuses for the winner and exemptions into premier events on the tour.

The incredibly consistent Lombard is currently ranked ninth on the International Swing, with countryman Dylan Frittelli – also in the SDC Championship field this week – ranked seventh. McIlroy holds a strong position at the top of the standings with just two events to play, but Lombard in particular says he’s looking forward to making a run at it over these next two weeks.

“The International Swing is in the back of my mind. I’ve got a lot to do to catch Rory (McIlroy) who is way up there with points. It will have to be two good weeks in South Africa, but I’m ready for that,” Lombard said.

Lombard’s consistency this year has been astounding and he hasn’t finished worse than tied 16^th in his last five tournaments.

While Frittelli has an equally good chance of making a strong push up the International Swing standings over these next two weeks, the recent DP World Tour winner said he’s trying not to make it his sole focus.

“I’m just trying to stay focused and play well through these next events. Everybody’s in town this week, including the top Sunshine Tour players. I know there are some cherries at the end of this stretch to get into other events, but I’m just going to keep my head down and not worry too much about that.”

The focus for this field right now will indeed be on managing a St Francis Links course that was already being buffeted by strong winds in Wednesday’s pro-am.

“It will be tricky in the wind this week. The course is playing a bit soft which makes it tricky in the breeze because you don’t get the run on those low shots. It will be a great test of distance control in the wind,” said Lombard.

Defending champion Matthew Baldwin dealt with the wind superbly last year and said it will key to victory again this week.

“It’s going to be a unique experience for me defending a title for the first time. You dream of winning on the DP World Tour and to achieve that at such a beautiful venue was special. But the golf course is just as beautiful as I remember it. You’ve got to keep it in play here. This course is visually intimidating so good ball striking is important.”

ST FRANCIS BAY (Eastern Cape) – Thomas Aiken heads into this week’s SDC Championship well aware that he’s in a new phase of his career and confident that the St Francis Links layout could reward the good momentum he’s been building up over the past few months.

It’s been a decade since Aiken last won on the DP World Tour in the Africa Open, which like this week’s event was also co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. That tournament was also played in the Eastern Cape at East London Golf Club, a sweeping coastal golf course offering the same kind of challenge that Aiken enjoys.

He returns to the SDC Championship having finished tied ninth here last year when England’s Matthew Baldwin won, and showing good form with finishes of tied seventh, 12^th and tied 23^rd in three of his last five events on the Sunshine Tour, European Challenge Tour and DP World Tour.

“It’s always nice to play back in South Africa. The momentum has been heading in the right direction and I feel like I’ve been playing really good golf the last six months. I feel like I’ve played better golf now than I’ve played in my entire career,” said Aiken.

The 40-year-old was a three-time winner on the DP World Tour and an eight-time winner on the Sunshine Tour who climbed as high as 73^rd on the Official World Golf Rankings before a tough few years where a few personal matters shortly before the global Covid pandemic led to a prolonged absence from the game.

“It’s been an interesting few years down to circumstances that weren’t within my control. When you don’t play competitively you lose that fine competitive edge. It’s a challenging one when you get into your 40s and the game is getting younger and younger. But I love playing the game and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could win. Every week I feel like I have a good chance at winning. But it is an interesting crossroads in my life.”

St Francis Links is certainly the kind of golf course Aiken thrives on, and he’s looking forward to the challenge of this Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

“I always love playing at the coast and enjoy the challenge of playing in the wind. It puts an emphasis on good ball striking and I like that. St Francis Links is a great golf course and I hope it plays a bit firm. It’s a great layout in the dunes here and there are a lot of holes where you have to think carefully about your second shot. It’s a thinker’s golf course rather than just a bomber’s course which suits me.” – Michael Vlismas