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Both Luke Jerling and Louis Albertse took full advantage of the good draw they had on day one of the Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge on Wednesday and opened with rounds of six-under-par 64 to lead the field by one shot.

On a largely calm morning on the Wild Coast Sun Country Club course, Jerling and Albertse topped the leaderboard over their nearest challengers in Ockie Strydom, Jacques Blaauw and Keith Horne.

Jerling in particular produced some of the best scoring with a bogey-free round that included a 29 on the front nine, but which played as his second nine on this par-70 layout.

“It was really a tale of two nines for me. I started on the back nine and although I hit the ball solid and didn’t miss a green, I just didn’t make any putts there,” he said of the nine straight pars to start his round.

But then came a run of four consecutive birdies from the first, followed by two more at the sixth and ninth holes.

“I knocked that first birdie in on the first hole and that seemed to get the momentum going. I have a new putter in the bag this week, and I’m just trusting the lines out there. The weather was also good when we teed off just after eleven in the morning, so we were on the right side of the draw.”

Albertse was also off just after 11am, and used the draw as well as his local knowledge of the course to his advantage.

“We had great weather in the morning. I also played a lot of junior golf in these parts, and had enough family holidays playing golf here as well. I gave myself a lot of opportunities out there, and took them,” he said of a round that included a 10-footer for eagle on the par-five 12^th hole.

“I’m very happy with this performance. I missed the last two cuts on the Rise-Up Series, and in the two-week break I spent a lot of time with my coach and sports psychologist and figured out a few things.”

The forecast for the next two days indicates wind, but both Jerling and Albertse are ready for the challenge.

“I’m comfortable on this course, and growing up in Port Elizabeth, the wind doesn’t bother me. In that sense the Wild Coast course does play to my strengths. I’m just very excited to be in this position again,” said Jerling.

Albertse feels equally confident.

“The Wild Coast Sun Country Club is always a fun test. I just need to keep myself in it over the next two rounds and keep giving myself chances.” – Michael Vlismas

The 2020 Alfred Dunhill Championship will be played for record prize money of R29 million when professionals from the Sunshine Tour and European Tour compete in this prestigious co-sanctioned tournament at Leopard Creek from 26-29 November.

The 2020 Alfred Dunhill Championship will anchor a strong run of co-sanctioned tournaments on South African fairways at the end of this year by offering the biggest purse on the Sunshine Tour this season.

The tournament forms part of the Sunshine Tour’s international restart of its schedule, and it will be played according to the strict coronavirus health protocols of both the South African Government as well as the European Tour.

“In our 21^st year, we are delighted that we can stage the Alfred Dunhill Championship. We are sorry that we cannot welcome spectators, but we are sure golf fans will understand,” said Guy Sanan, Richemont.

“We would like to thank so many people who have made it possible for us to carry on with this year’s Championship, including the Sunshine Tour and European Tour, the professionals and the officials, volunteers and staff who give up their time to put on this unique event.”

The Alfred Dunhill Championship is one of the flagship events in world golf with its unique setting and ambience, nestled on the banks of the Crocodile River overlooking the magnificent Kruger National Park.

The splendour of the location has been a wonderful backdrop over the years to the world-class golf played, which has been reflected in the quality of its champions.

Since its inception in 2000, the list of past champions has included Major Champions and former world No.1s Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Charl Schwartzel and Ernie Els. The current champion is Pablo Larrazabal, who kept going last year despite foot problems to win by one shot in an exciting finish.

“The Alfred Dunhill Championship is one of our flagship tournaments and we are extremely grateful to be able to announce it as part of our schedule, and with such a significant increase in prize money,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“I would like to thank our Chairman, Johann Rupert, for his unflinching support of our efforts to restart our Tour, and for Alfred Dunhill’s longstanding support of professional golf in South Africa.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “Our sincere thanks go to Johann Rupert and Alfred Dunhill for what is yet another significant commitment to golf and the longstanding partnership between the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour. Leopard Creek is one of the most unique venues on our Tour, and we are very much looking forward to returning there this year.”

Daniel van Tonder will look to continue his incredible form on the Sunshine Tour as he heads into Wednesday’s first round of the Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge on the back of three victories in his last four tournaments.

And his chances of continuing this run look even better considering that he finished second in the 2016 Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge after an opening round of 62.

Van Tonder has been a revelation ever since the Sunshine Tour resumed its schedule with the Rise-Up Series.

The Johannesburg professional didn’t finish outside the top 10 in any of the five tournaments on the Rise-Up Series, and this included three victories on the series.

He earned a total of R310 850 over those five tournaments, which is already just under half of what he earned in an entire season in his first year on the Sunshine Tour in 2012 when he was named Rookie of the Year.

A combination of a new diet of intermittent fasting as well as a rock-solid mental approach has been the key to Van Tonder’s success, and something he’ll look to continue capitalising on at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club this week.

It’s a mindset he believes takes him back to his days as South Africa’s top amateur before he turned professional in 2011.

“I just feel like there isn’t a shot on the golf course I can’t take on at the moment. I feel that wherever you put me on the course, I’ll find a way to hit the green. That’s how I used to play when I was an amateur, and especially in the year before I turned professional. I had that mindset,” said Van Tonder.

Van Tonder currently tops the Sunshine Tour Money List through five events of this new season, and his nearest challenger could also be his greatest threat this week.

Darren Fichardt is second on the money list and has an impressive record at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club.

He won the 2009 Nashua Masters on this golf course as well as the 2011 Vodacom Origins of Golf. And he lost in a playoff against Vaughn Groenewald for the 2018 Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge after surging through the field with a final round of 62.

South African professional golf has received a major boost with the announcement that the Joburg Open will make its return to the Sunshine Tour and European Tour schedules this November, thereby ushering in the country’s return to international golf following lockdown.

The 2020 Joburg Open will be played from 19-22 November at Randpark Golf Club with support from the City of Johannesburg, and with a prize fund of R19.5 million.

This will be the first international men’s golf tournament on South African fairways in nine months, and a timely boost for the South African economy as it emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown.

It will also be the first of a run of tournaments co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Tour this summer, with further announcements to come.

“We are delighted to announce the return of this world-class golf tournament to our world-class African city. Since the inception of this tournament in 2007, our vision has been that the Joburg Open must benefit all the residents of Johannesburg. Now more than ever, as our economy requires a boost following the COVID-19 lockdown and with our President publicly calling for a new business stimulus, the return of the Joburg Open is perfectly timed to contribute significantly towards this cause as it brings a major international event to our city once again,” said Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg.

The Joburg Open was last played in 2017 before the City of Johannesburg agreed to support the Sunshine Tour and absorb this event into the South African Open Championship for the duration of the latter’s hosting in Johannesburg.

The tournament first teed off in 2007 and boasts an impressive array of past champions including Major winner Charl Schwartzel and multiple European Tour champions Branden Grace, George Coetzee, Andy Sullivan and Darren Fichardt. The last tournament in 2017 was also the first significant victory for India’s Shubhankar Sharma and his emergence as one of the new stars of world golf.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome back the Joburg Open to our schedule in what is also a momentous moment for South African professional golf as we also welcome back international competition to our fairways after a lengthy break,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“I’d like to the thank the Mayor and the City of Johannesburg for so graciously supporting us for the duration of the South African Open’s hosting in Johannesburg, and we are delighted that we can announce the return of a much-loved tournament amongst the residents of Johannesburg. I’d also like to thank the Sunshine Tour Board, our sponsors, partners and the European Tour for their support. My special thanks go to our Chairman, Johann Rupert, who has been instrumental in terms of the strength of our partnership with the European Tour, and also our Executive Director, Selwyn Nathan, who has worked tirelessly with us to achieve this momentous restart of our international schedule.”

European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley said: “I am delighted to see the Joburg Open back on our schedule this year. We have a wonderful relationship with the Sunshine Tour stretching back over many years and this co-sanctioned tournament is another example of that.

“I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Johann Rupert, Thomas Abt, Selwyn Nathan and everyone at the Sunshine Tour for their commitment in making this happen, in addition to the Executive Mayor and the City of Johannesburg for their help and support.”

Ernie Els birdied the final two holes, running in a 40-footer in the rain on the last, for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke victory over Colin Montgomerie on Sunday in the SAS Championship.

Els made the long putt on the par-4 18th three weeks after missing a 2-foot putt on the final hole of the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach to finish a stroke out of a playoff.

“It’s a crazy game,” Els said. “A couple of weeks ago I missed a very short putt to get in a playoff and today I make a 40-footer. Figure that one out.”

Jim Furyk missed a chance to become the first player to win his first three PGA TOUR Champions events, closing with a 70 to tie for ninth at 8 under — four strokes behind Els. Furyk won at Warwick Hills and Pebble Beach.

Els won for the second time in his first 10 starts on the PGA TOUR Champions. The South African star, a four-time major champion with 19 PGA TOUR titles, finished at 12-under 204 at Prestonwood Country Club. He pointed to putting help from fellow player Mark O’Meara.

“Just by chance I saw him on the putting green the other day and we just started chatting a little bit,” Els said. “He uses the same putter that I use, so we started talking a little bit and I said, `Hey, have a look here.′ I didn’t have a great experience at Pebble obviously a couple weeks ago. He looked at me, and he’s a great putter and knowing a man that long, he gave me a nice assist. He told me what he felt I should do and here I am. So, I owe Mark O’Meara.”

Els tied Montgomerie, playing three groups behind, with the birdie on the par-5 17th and pulled ahead on 18.

“I had 64 in mind,” Els said. “Especially on the final round, the guys, there were so many guys bunched. I was coming from 6 under, I reckoned 14 under was maybe a good score, but then the conditions helped out and it became really tough. So, 66 just squeaked in there.”

Montgomerie, tied for the second-round lead with Darren Clarke and Woody Austin, parred the final four holes — giving himself little chance on 18 when he hit his 190-yard approach 50 feet left. He shot a 70.

Vijay Singh (70) was third at 10 under. Austin (72) was 9 under with Gene Sauers (67), Robert Karlsson (68), Kirk Triplett (69 ) and David Toms (71). Clarke (74) tied for 11th at 7 under. – PGA Tour Champions.

South Africa’s Justin Harding shares a one-shot lead with Tyrrell Hatton and Adri Arnaus heading into the second round of the BMW PGA Championship after an enthralling opening day at Wentworth Golf Club.

The South African opened with a bogey-free 66 on a West Course that was playing long but receptive at the third Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai.

“I think the thing that makes me most happy is there were no bogeys. I played good, solid golf. I had good control of my ball flight and my irons. It’s just a matter of trying to find a few fairways and see if I can give myself a couple chances on the greens,” Harding said.

Harding has a victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, but a Rolex Series win would be the biggest of his career, and the 34-year-old is relishing taking on the European Tour’s best.

“I think everyone teeing it up knows the stature of the event and how important it is for the season. It’s obviously an opportunity to have all the big guns out and playing, and any golfer wants to taste the best out there. The course is in great shape. They have put on a great show here.” – European Tour/ASAP Sports.

Daniel van Tonder is unlocked and reloaded.

Van Tonder wrapped up the Sunshine Tour’s five-tournament Rise-Up Series with another emphatic victory at Huddle Park Golf Club on Friday as he closed with a 66 to win the Vodacom Championship Reloaded by four strokes on 21 under par 195.

It marked back-to-back victories for Van Tonder after winning last week’s Vodacom Championship Unlocked. And this was also Van Tonder’s third victory in five tournaments on the Rise-Up Series after his earlier triumph in the African Bank Sunshine Tour Championship.

In fact, on this Rise-Up Series alone Van Tonder has managed to equal his three previous career victories won between 2014 and 2019.

And he also becomes the first professional to win back-to-back on the Sunshine Tour since Justin Harding in 2018, and the first to win three tournaments on the Tour since Oliver Bekker in 2017.

“It feels amazing. I’ve got the kind of confidence that I don’t feel like I need to back down for any shot on the golf course. I feel like if I can make a swing, then there’s no shot that’s too tough for me. My wife and caddie Abigail plays a big part in that because she keeps me calm on the course and gives me that confidence,” said Van Tonder.

Jaco Ahlers and Adilson da Silva shared second place on 17 under par following respective final rounds of 65 and 66, while Jacques Blaauw took fourth place on 16 under par with a closing 68.

Ahlers had his own reasons to celebrate as he won the overall Betway Birdie Challenge for the most birdies on the Rise-Up Series. Ahlers took the first prize of R25 000 with his 79 birdies, just beating Van Tonder into second place on 77 birdies. Van Tonder earned an extra R15 000 for his efforts here. And third place as well as a cheque for R10 000 went to Tristen Strydom with 73 birdies.

“I’ve just played really solid. I’ve been working hard on my game, and the putter warmed up as the series went on,” said Ahlers.

The Tour now has a two-week break before resuming its schedule with the Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club. – Michael Vlismas

Daniel van Tonder eagled his last hole of the day to give him a three-stroke lead going into Friday’s final round of the Vodacom Championship Reloaded at Huddle Park Golf Club.

It was another emphatic display of his current dominance on the Sunshine Tour’s Rise-Up Series. Teeing off the 10^th with a one-stroke lead, Van Tonder came through 14 holes of his second round tied for the lead with Jacques Blaauw on 12 under par.

The Johannesburg golfer then birdied the par-five sixth – his 15^th hole of the day – and eagled the ninth to sign for a 66 that puts him top of the leaderboard on 15 under par.

Blaauw posted a second round of 67 to be his nearest challenger on 12 under par. Malcolm Mitchell and Adilson da Silva are currently tied for third place on 11 under par following respective rounds of 68 and 64.

A victory for Van Tonder on Friday would not only give him his third win on the five-tournament Rise-Up Series, but it would also be one of the most dominant performances in recent history on the Sunshine Tour.

Van Tonder has already won two of the last three tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, and is now looking for a run of three wins in four tournaments.

By comparison, Jaco Ahlers won twice amidst a five-tournament run in 2019, while Justin Harding won back-to-back on the Sunshine Tour in 2018, Oliver Bekker won twice in a three-tournament run in 2017, and Ruan de Smidt won twice in three weeks on Tour in 2016.

Blaauw will be pleased with his position going into the final round as he seeks to claim his first victory since 2016. And history certainly bodes well for him. Of his four career victories on the Sunshine Tour, three have come in Vodacom sponsored tournaments.

And Da Silva may also feel confident at four shots off the lead. The Brazilian started the Rise-Up Series with finishes of sixth and second in the first two tournaments. – Michael Vlismas

Daniel van Tonder continued his dominance of the Sunshine Tour’s Rise-Up Series as he opened with a nine-under-par 63 including two eagles to lead the first round of the Vodacom Championship Reloaded at Huddle Park Golf Club on Wednesday.

Van Tonder is one clear of Christiaan Basson and Louis de Jager, and with two rounds to go he is on track to claim his third victory on the five-tournament Rise-Up Series.

“Everything about my game just feels really good at the moment. I’m very happy. I played simple golf again. I hit driver a lot and gave myself chances to hit wedges close to the pins. I made one bogey on the par-three third hole where I hit it over the green, but after that I made a few birdies and two eagles so I’m quite happy,” he said.

Musiwalo Nethunzwi is only two shots off the lead after opening with a 65, while young star Jayden Schaper is in contention once again after signing for a 66.

But Van Tonder is playing with such confidence at the moment that it would be hard to see past him adding a third title on the series this week.

“I think it helps that I’ve got some good sponsors behind me now, and that takes a lot of pressure off. I can go out there and play my golf,” he said.

His confidence shone through in his two eagles. On the par-five sixth hole he hit a seven iron to 10 feet from the hole and holed the putt. And then on the par-five 14^th he lipped out with a lob wedge for an albatross, leaving him a tap-in for eagle there.

“The wind was blowing quite a bit, but for some reason the worse the weather gets the better it is for me. I like it tough,” he said.

As much as he’s pleased with his current form, Van Tonder believes he’s playing to the kind of potential he’s always believed he’s had.

“I’ve always felt that I want to be one of South Africa’s best golfers. I just want to get overseas and prove myself, and I feel like I’m just working towards getting that chance to go over there.”

The Sunshine Tour has officially announced that Thomas Abt will assume the role of Commissioner of the Tour as of 1 October 2020.

Current Commissioner Selwyn Nathan will remain as Deputy Chairman of the Sunshine Tour and will serve as Executive Director of the Tour for the duration of the handover to Abt.

Abt was appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour in February 2018 and as eventual successor to Nathan in the role of Commissioner.

The announcement forms part of a restructuring of the Sunshine Tour as part of the Board’s vision to usher in a new era in its history.

Sunshine Tour Tournament Director Ludwick Manyama has been appointed as the new Transformation Manager of the Tour, while Pauli van Meersbergen, Tournament Director on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, has been appointed General Manager of the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

The Sunshine Tour’s leadership sees the departure of Grant Wilson, the Chief Operating Officer, after 17 years and Theo Manyama, Tournament Director and globally respected rules official, after 39 years. Both have taken retirement packages.

“I take great pleasure in welcoming Thomas to the new role of Commissioner. Thomas is widely respected throughout the world of golf for his role as first a tournament promoter and then his duties as Deputy Commissioner. I cannot think of anybody more qualified and more passionate about the Sunshine Tour to take it forward into a new era of growth,” said Nathan.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Grant Wilson and Theo Manyama. Both have been incredible servants to the game and the Sunshine Tour. Grant has been instrumental in helping the Tour to build the very strong foundation it enjoys today. And Theo has flown the flag proudly for our Tour and our country around the world where he’s been invited to officiate. They are an integral part of Sunshine Tour history and the success of our Tour.

“Theo’s son Ludwick will carry on his legacy in his current position as a Tournament Director at the Sunshine Tour and also as the new Transformation Manager as we seek to fully maximise the golf talent we have in Southern Africa. And Pauli van Meersbergen has made incredible strides as the first female Rules Official and then Tournament Director on the Sunshine Tour, and she is integral to the future success of the Sunshine Ladies Tour.”

Johann Rupert, the Chairman of the Sunshine Tour, paid tribute to Nathan’s contribution to not only the Sunshine Tour but South African golf as a whole.

“Selwyn has served South African golf in many forms for 50 years, and he has always done so with the interests of the game at heart. As Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, Selwyn has helped to grow the Tour to its strongest position in decades. He has led admirably through some of the greatest challenges, not least of which has been the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also planned for the future of the Tour through his expert mentoring of Thomas Abt, who now assumes this responsibility. The Board of Directors is extremely grateful for the invaluable contribution he has made.”

Abt said he was delighted to take up this new position.

“I’m extremely honoured to be handed this responsibility. I cannot thank Selwyn enough for giving me this opportunity and the time I have spent learning from him, and I’m also grateful to the Sunshine Tour Board of Directors for placing their faith in me. This is an exciting time for the Sunshine Tour as we embark on a new journey with a number of new innovations to bring professional golf in Southern Africa to our fans, and I’m looking forward to building on the incredible foundation we have with our many valued sponsors and partners.”