It seems a new diet of intermittent fasting only made Daniel van Tonder even more hungry to win as he claimed his fourth victory on the Sunshine Tour in the African Bank Sunshine Tour Championship at Glendower Golf Club on Friday.
Van Tonder started the final round in a three-way tie for the lead and signed for a bogey-free 68 to win by three shots on 11 under par 205 on the Tour’s new Rise-Up Series.
Adilson da Silva, George Coetzee and Neil Schietekat shared second place on eight under par, while Dylan Mostert produced another solid performance as he followed up a share of 15th in last week’s Betway Championship with a fifth place at Glendower on six under par.
Van Tonder put his success down to intense work on his game during lockdown, and a new approach to his nutrition.
“I decided to use lockdown to my advantage. I used the time to practice hard and make changes in my swing, and also within myself,†he said.
“I’ve changed the way I eat and I’ve lost about 20 kilogrammes. I follow a plan of intermittent fasting and it’s made a huge difference. I feel a lot better and have actually gained distance because I’m a bit more supple. So everything feels a bit more consistent now.â€
Van Tonder was tied for the lead with Martin Rohwer and Jayden Schaper at the start of the final round. But as both Rohwer and Schaper closed with rounds of 75 to slip into a finish of tied sixth on four under, Van Tonder produced a measured round of four birdies to take the title.
“I’ve been playing well leading up to this. I just felt very calm and focused out there and am enjoying myself more. It’s a new time, and a new me,†he said.
Jaco Ahlers leads the Betway Birdie Challenge through two tournaments on the Rise-Up Series with 29 birdies. The Betway Birdie Challenge will run for the full five tournaments on the series, with the leading birdie maker walking away with R25Â 000 at the end of the series, followed by R15Â 000 for second place and R10Â 000 for third.
