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DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – Louis Albertse handled the pressure of chasing down his first Sunshine Tour title like a real professional on Saturday as he won the third leg of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate.

The 25-year-old began the final round with a share of the lead, and produced an impressive four-under-par 66 to finish on nine-under-par for the tournament and clinch victory by one stroke over CJ du Plessis (65).

But, as well as Albertse played, a bogey on the par-four 16^th left him needing pars on the tricky last two holes of The Woods course. Albertse negotiated the elevation changes and water bordering the 18^th green with aplomb.

“There are so many emotions, but it feels really good to have my first Sunshine Tour title. It’s never easy to win and the last nine holes when you’re going for your first win is particularly tough, but I tried hard to stay in the moment. The bogey on 16 was a bit unsettling, but I knew I was still 100% in it. I had been playing nicely the whole day and all I could do was give it my best.

“I’ve been in Category 9 since I started on tour and I’ve worked really hard to get out of it, I always felt I was good enough to win. Now there are lots of things to look forward to, getting into big events now without any worries. I saw a couple of scoreboards on the way in and I knew CJ was playing well, which was a good thing in a sense because I knew I had to keep pushing and not play defensively,” Albertse said after his wire-to-wire win, having shared the lead with veteran Brazilian Adilson da Silva after the first two rounds.

Albertse, who hails from Dundee in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, went out in two-under-par 33 and then made an ideal start to the back nine with a lengthy birdie putt on the 339-yard par-four 10^th hole.

“I made a few good par-saves at the beginning but unfortunately took a six on the second par-five. But I’ve been putting really well and the birdie on 10 was a massive bonus, that just makes sure you get into the right gear going into the downwind holes. I also made a really good save on 13 and then birdies on 14 and 15 [another long putt] kept the momentum going,” Albertse said.

Du Plessis’ five-under-par 65 started inauspiciously with a bogey at the first hole, but thereafter he did not drop a shot, collecting five birdies including four in five holes from the sixth. It is the Irene Country Club golfer’s fourth runners-up finish and he is yet to win a professional tournament.

Adilson da Silva was one shot off the lead when he made the turn, but returned to the clubhouse in level-par to finish on six-under-par, two behind Du Plessis and in the tie for third with Riekus Nortje and Deon Germishuys.

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – For the second day in a row Louis Albertse found himself at the top of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series leaderboard alongside Adilson da Silva as they go into the final round of this Sunshine Tour event at Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

Albertse teed off in the afternoon on Friday and the 25-year-old from Dundee once again matched the veteran Da Silva all the way. The pair both shot one-under-par 69s in blustery conditions to go to five-under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Ockie Strydom.

Although the rain that was an irritation on the first day had disappeared, there were gusty winds and rather fresh temperatures to contend with on Friday.

But Albertse, who is now in his fourth season on tour, felt at home, not only in the tricky weather but also being right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard.

“Conditions were not easy but I felt I handled them very well. In these conditions there are always going to be mistakes, but I’m happy that I’ve ended the day in a good position. There was no rain this afternoon, but the wind was definitely a factor. In my last six or seven holes it really picked up and it was a bit cold as well.

“At times the wind meant a difference of three or four clubs, and at this place when that happens then anything under par is good. I will approach the final round exactly the same. I’m playing nicely and there’s no need to change anything. Both my bogeys today were putting errors on the par fives, which was really surprising because I’ve been putting well. I’ve played with Adilson before and he’s a really nice guy,” Albertse said.

With finishes of T10th, third (a career-best finish at the SunBet Time Square Challenge at Wingate Park), T42nd and T12th since the beginning of August, Albertse has risen to 21^st on the Money List. He is certainly playing with more consistency now, which he puts down to the work he has done with strength and conditioning coach Jacques Swarts.

“I think my recent success is a factor of a lot of things coming right at a similar time. But with Jacques Swarts I’ve been working really hard in the gym for the last couple of years and since that I’ve become a lot more consistent because my body feels good throughout a tournament. It’s the small things added together which have led to more consistency,” Albertse said.

Strydom, a winner of the Sishen Vodacom Origins of Golf Series in 2019, closed to within a shot of the leaders with his two-under-par 68 on Friday, which featured a double-bogey six on the 11^th hole and two other dropped shots, which were nullified by three birdies on each loop.

CJ du Plessis made a strong move into a tie for fourth on three-under-par with his 67, with experienced golfers Lyle Rowe, Anton Haig, Trevor Fisher Jnr and Hennie Otto lurking with intent on two-under-par with several other golfers.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout will return to defend his Alfred Dunhill Championship title when the Sunshine Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament is played at Leopard Creek Country Club from 9-12 December.

The championship will abide by all South African government health protocols concerning COVID-19 and comply with any future government announcements concerning this.

Bezuidenhout claimed a four-stroke victory at Leopard Creek last year to achieve what he said was a career goal of winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

“I’ve always wanted to win this tournament. Leopard Creek has always been a special place for me,” he said.

Bezuidenhout will be seeking to become only the third golfer in the history of the Alfred Dunhill Championship to successfully defend his title following Pablo Martin in 2009 and 2010, and Charl Schwartzel in 2012 and 2013.

Bezuidenhout is expected to lead a strong field of South Africans seeking to maintain their hold on this prestigious title, with local professionals having won seven of the past nine championships.

The unique setting of the golf course on the banks of the Crocodile River and overlooking the Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most iconic game reserves, makes the Alfred Dunhill Championship one of the flagship events on the European Tour calendar with a strong following amongst the European stars.

“For 21 years the Alfred Dunhill Championship has distinguished itself as a championship that celebrates world-class golf in a peerless location, and we are privileged to continue to do so with the support of the Sunshine Tour and European Tour, the professionals and the officials, and the volunteers and staff who make this event so unique,” said Guy Sanan, Richemont.

With his victory in 2020, Bezuidenhout joined an illustrious list of past Alfred Dunhill Championship winners including Ernie Els, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.

“The Alfred Dunhill Championship is one of the Sunshine Tour’s flagship tournaments which has consistently drawn some of the best golfers in the game, including Major winners, former world number ones, and Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars. We are extremely grateful to have Alfred Dunhill and our Sunshine Tour Chairman, Johann Rupert, as such longstanding supporters of professional golf in South Africa,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “Alfred Dunhill and the Alfred Dunhill Championship have a long and proud history on the European Tour through the leadership, vision and commitment of Johann Rupert and everyone involved with the Sunshine Tour. This, combined with the unique location of the truly outstanding Leopard Creek golf course, makes this one of the annual highlights on the schedule for our members.”

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – Brazilian Adilson da Silva has been dogged lately by an inconsistent putter and a struggle to maintain focus on the course, but he put it all together in fine style on Thursday as he claimed a share of the lead after the first round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series event at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate.

Da Silva opened the third leg of this season’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Series with a polished four-under-par 66, sharing the lead with Dundee Golf Club’s Louis Albertse.

The 49-year-old Da Silva started at the 10^th on Mount Edgecombe’s The Woods course and moved to two-under with back-to-back birdies on the par-three 12^th and par-four 13^th.

There was a bit of a wobble though when he bogeyed the 18^th and second holes, sandwiching a birdie on the par-four first, but Da Silva said his efforts to stay mentally focused have started paying off as he picked up three more birdies, returning to the clubhouse in 32 strokes.

Playing in the rain, it was easy to get frustrated and allow a promising round to fritter away, but the experienced Da Silva regrouped brilliantly.

“With all the breaks between tournaments due to Covid, I was really struggling to concentrate on the course, but playing events now every couple of weeks has helped a lot. I’ve pushed myself to focus my mind on the target and not worry so much about my swing. Otherwise it’s a strange feeling of not really being there. So I’m trying to visualise, put more emphasis on the shot, keep my mind focused on the present.

“I missed a couple of putts and then made silly bogeys on 18 and two – you’re getting wet and it’s easy to get frustrated. But I just told myself to hang in there, I hit most of the fairways and greens after that and made some key putts.

“My putting has been on and off lately, which is so frustrating when you’re hitting the ball well but you feel like you’re not playing well because you can’t make a score. But today was better – 28 putts and I can feel something building,” Da Silva said.

The 13-time Sunshine Tour winner also shared the lead after the first round of his previous event, the Sunshine Tour Invitational at Centurion Country Club two weeks ago, before finishing in a tie for 12^th after closing with a pair of 71s. This time, with his putter playing along, Da Silva is hoping to maintain his first-round momentum. But he warns “You can’t just run after it here, this is a course that gives you nothing.”

Chasing Da Silva and Albertse, who coincidentally also finished in a tie for 12^th at Centurion, are Siyanda Mwandla and Riekus Nortje, who shot 67s on Thursday.

Eleven golfers are two shots back on two-under-par, including Alex Haindl, winner of the second leg of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series at Sishen at the end of last month, Ockie Strydom, Lyle Rowe, Trevor Fisher Jnr and Anton Haig.

The South African Open Championship will return to the Gary Player Country Club from 2-5 December 2021 with a prize fund of US$1.5 million and with Christiaan Bezuidenhout back to defend his title.

Bezuidenhout, fresh from securing his PGA Tour card, will be joined at Sun City by, amongst others, fellow PGA Tour campaigner Dylan Frittelli. The field will also include European Tour champions Dean Burmester, Justin Harding and George Coetzee, while there is expectation of support from more of South Africa’s leading international professionals.

The 2021 South African Open forms part of the Sunshine Tour and European Tour’s new landmark partnership concluded in July which guarantees the South African Open as a co-sanctioned tournament until 2025.

The ongoing COVID-19 restrictions mean the Nedbank Golf Challenge can again not be played this year, and with Nedbank and Sun International agreeing to continue their support of the South African Open. The tournament will continue to abide by all South African government health protocols concerning COVID-19 and comply with any future government announcements concerning this.

“We are so excited to have both Nedbank and Sun International, two longstanding supporters of the Sunshine Tour, with us as we begin this incredible new chapter with the European Tour. They have always been important in our quest to create the best opportunities for South African professionals. As our national Open, the South African Open has also always represented a key moment of great opportunity for South African golfers to take their careers to the next level, and now even more so,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

Grant Hepburn, CEO of GolfRSA, also expressed his delight at what this new partnership brings to the national Open.

“GolfRSA and the South African Golf Association, who are custodians of the South African Open, are extremely proud of the legacy of the South African Open and the fact that it continues to be seen as one of world golf’s most historic tournaments.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “The South African Open has been central to the longstanding partnership between the European Tour and Sunshine Tour for over a quarter of a century now. It’s wonderful that as we now grow this partnership, we do so with the South African Open continuing to also grow its influence and build on its already proud legacy on both our tours.”

Given that COVID-19 regulations have once again prevented the playing of ‘Africa’s Major’ – the Nedbank Golf Challenge – Nedbank and Sun International have again agreed to support the South African Open as it enters this new era of increased opportunity for professionals from South Africa and Europe.

“In this difficult environment for all players and golf fans, Nedbank is proud to have played its part in being the stimulus that helps to keep South African golf moving forward. While ‘Africa’s Major’, in the form of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, waits to be able to make its return at Sun City, the South African Open gives us an opportunity to continue our longstanding support of golf in this country, and now even more so with this new phase that the national Open is entering,” said Mike Brown, Chief Executive of Nedbank.

Anthony Leeming, Chief Executive of Sun International, said: “It is a privilege for us to host the South African Open and to once again welcome back both the European Tour and Sunshine Tour to Sun City and the Gary Player Country Club. This golf course has witnessed some of the most historic moments in the game as the home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and we’re proud to be able to add this historic moment in South African Open history to that list.”

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – A golfer who has missed a few cuts never sleeps easy before a tournament, but Merrick Bremner is determined to ensure he enjoys himself when he tees it up in this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Mount Edgecombe tournament, starting on Thursday.

Bremner, a seven-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and a stalwart of the circuit since 2006/7, is currently 83^rd on the Money List after a fairly difficult winter has seen him miss the last three cuts. But the 35-year-old is adamant that his fortunes will only turn if he is having fun out on course and not pushing and grinding too hard.

“I’m hoping to have a lot of fun. Coming from the high pace, quick living of Gauteng, to a very laid-back place like Mount Edgecombe is what I’m looking for. I know it’s not as easy as just saying ‘I’m going to have fun’ and then you play well otherwise I would have a lot more good performances.

“But if you’re not enjoying yourself then you definitely won’t be able to perform at your best, so that’s my focus – just go out there and have some fun. I just remember that life could be worse, I could have a 9-to-5 job, so I am extremely blessed to be playing golf for a living. The key to anyone’s success is that they are enjoying what they do,” Bremner said.

Bremner was born in Durban and feels at home on the North Coast, even though he grew up on the Highveld.

“It’s excellent to be back down here. I’ve always liked the coastal courses and I’ve had a bit of success at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate. I like the layout, I love the people and it just feels lekker here – it’s a bit warmer, everything is greener and there’s more grass on the fairways than up in Gauteng right now. So maybe somewhere in there it does feel a bit like home,” Bremner said.

Known as one of the biggest hitters on our, the other excellent news for Bremner is that, judging by his third-place finish in the pro-am, the hard work he has done on his putting is starting to pay off.

“All aspects of your game need to fire around here, but I have been putting in some proper putting work and I seem to be making some good progress. So I am really looking forward to this tournament,” Bremner said.

-ENDS-

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – Curwin Bosch found the perfect way to soothe the pain of the Sharks’ Carling Currie Cup Final defeat against the Vodacom Bulls when he swapped his kicking boots for golf clubs and played in the official pro-am of this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

In a brief break between the final and then flying off to Europe for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, Bosch says he thoroughly enjoyed the time he could spend inside the ropes with the Sunshine Tour professionals.

“It’s really nice to have some off-time and be able to do what I love doing in my spare time – I play a lot of golf. It was a really nice experience to mingle with the pros and I didn’t play too badly either. Fortunately Mount Edgecombe is my home course and I got one birdie. Overall I really enjoyed it,” the six-handicapper said.

Being accustomed to lining up pressure kicks at goal, Bosch should be used to the horrible nerves that can come with having to make clutch putts. But the lanky 24-year-old says putting is not as challenging for him.

“I think the mental side comes into it more with my driving and long irons, but putting is actually a bit easier for me. I do hit my drives a long way, but not often as straight as my kicking,” said Bosch.

With rugby now becoming an all-year pursuit, Bosch said he was also interested to see how the Sunshine Tour professionals, many of whom have to grind it out week-to-week, approach the game. Work ethic is one thing that stands out for the Springbok.

“It’s nice to see how the pros go about it. That’s the fantastic part, seeing how they go about things on the course. You see how much thinking is done before every shot and talking to them was a great experience. The hard work, the many hours they put in to hone their game, you have to admire them. I have a better understanding of the things they go through now,” Bosch said.

The 54-hole professional tournament tees off on Thursday at Mount Edgecombe’s The Woods course.

DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal – Kevin Stone’s former status as a Sunshine Tour professional and a past winner on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series certainly makes him qualified to give advice on what it will take to win this week’s Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. And his current status as the Director of Golf at Mount Edgecombe puts him very much in the highly qualified category.

The Sunshine Tour’s finest will take on Mount Edgecombe’s The Woods course when this 54-hole Vodacom Origins of Golf event tees off on Thursday.

And Stone has a word of advice for them.

“The pros are going to need to drive it straight. We’ll maybe just speed up the greens a bit. They are normally between 9 and 9.5 and we’ll probably go up to 10.5 for the tournament. We expect some rain to slow it up as well, but if the wind gets up then the greens will be very tricky.

“But on the par fives, they can get on easily in two because they all just bang it 300 yards these days. Watching them makes me feel like I’ve never played this course before – it’s nice to be young,” said Stone.

It’s a measure of how long this Vodacom Origins of Golf series has been supporting the Sunshine Tour that the 55-year-old Stone, who has since retired from touring golf, won on the series in 2006. And his son, Brandon, now a successful European Tour campaigner, was still a young amateur caddying for his dad back then.

“I stopped playing professional golf in 1998 when I went into the club industry, and just played part-time. And, honestly, I’m not that keen to race out there and play now. My wife Desiree is the CEO of Mount Edgecombe Estate and Country Club, and initially I came and helped out when Micky Hough resigned. But then they asked me to stay, and starting in December last year, I am now the Director of Golf.”

Stone and his team were only too willing to help out when the Sunshine Tour had to unfortunately shift the tournament from Durban Country Club at late notice because of unforeseen circumstances.

“Normally we have six-to-nine months to prepare for a tournament, and when Desiree called me into her office last Friday I thought I was going to get fired. Instead she asked me if we can host the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series. Fortunately I like to keep the course to tour standard week in, week out, so the members can enjoy that sort of quality.”

Jacques Kruyswijk was relieved to finally end a five-year win drought and claim his second Sunshine Tour title in the Sunshine Tour Invitational at Centurion Country Club on Friday.

Kruyswijk closed with a 67, and then watched as Albert Venter, tied for the lead with him on 18 under par, bogeyed the last to hand him the title.

Venter, who signed for a final round of 71, shared second place with Michael Palmer, who posted a 66, on 17 under par. Jaco van Zyl was next best on 16 under par with a closing 70.

“It’s great to finally get it done, and even more special to do so at my home course,” said Kruyswijk, who last won in the 2016 Lions of Africa Cape Town Open but who since has had his resolve tested as he’s tried to get back into the winner’s circle.

“This is the result of all the hard work I’ve put in over the last couple of years. You know, to be winless since 2016 was a big monkey on my back, and I’m so glad to finally be rid of that. I’ve got a fantastic team around me who have supported me since day one, and that’s made the difference for me. I’ve grown a lot in the last couple of years and I’ve learnt so much.”

Kruyswijk was three shots off the lead of Venter going into the final round. But more importantly for him was that his second round of 64 had enabled him to play his way into the final threeball for Friday.

“I wanted to play in the final threeball. That was really important for me because I knew I could then put pressure on the guys leading. I went into match play mode against them in the final round, and I’m grateful to have come out on top.”

The timing couldn’t be better for Kruyswijk. On Sunday he flies to The Netherlands for the European Tour’s Dutch Open, and to begin a lengthy stretch of tournaments overseas. – Michael Vlismas

Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

The Sunshine Tour is proud to announce a new partnership with Jaguar Land Rover South Africa in conjunction with Jaguar Land Rover Centurion, as the official vehicle partner, that will take South African professional golf to the next level in the years ahead.

As part of their commitment to the Sunshine Tour, Jaguar Land Rover will be awarding vehicles to:

• The leading Sunshine Tour professional on the 2020-2021 Sunshine Tour Money List, who participated in at least 3 more tournaments than the total number of co-sanctioned tournaments in the season.
• The leading Sunshine Tour professional on the 2021-2022 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, who participates in at least 3 more tournaments than the total number of co-sanctioned tournaments in the season.
• The Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year for the 2021-2022 Sunshine Tour season.
• The Sunshine Tour professional holding the lowest stroke average for the 2021-2022 Sunshine Tour season.

The partnership will run from the current Sunshine Tour season, up until March 2023.

“We are delighted to be able to show our support for the Sunshine Tour in these challenging times and by supporting South Africa’s top professionals,” said Nigel Clarke, Sales Operations Director, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa.

“Jaguar Land Rover Centurion will ensure that when it comes to arriving at tournaments safely, the winning professionals will benefit from our Peace-of-Mind Promise that will put them in the best position to compete. Our customers have the highest expectations for the vehicles they drive and we are privileged to meet these for them. The Sunshine Tour’s own commitment to excellence and professionalism makes this a perfect partnership,” added Colin Lazarus, Jaguar Land Rover Centurion.

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “Jaguar Land Rover epitomises excellence and quality and we are proud to be able to associate with such a globally-respected brand. The golfer who wins in each of the selected categories has shown an equal level of excellence over a sustained period of time throughout the season, and a vehicle of this quality will be a fitting reward for their hard work and dedication.”