Martin Rohwer had the good graces to call it “unexpected” and thanked the weather for helping him, but his wonderful victory in the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya at Umhlali Country Club on Friday was down to the fabulous golf he played on the final day.
Jonathan Broomhead did not have the services of a hot putter and it was a tougher, windier day at Umhlali Country Club on Thursday, but the Sunshine Tour rookie still managed to hang on to the lead after the second round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya.
Jonathan Broomhead, in his maiden season on the Sunshine Tour, roared to the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya on Wednesday when he shot a dazzling eight-under-par 63 at Umhlali Country Club, describing it as “just one of those rounds that happen now and again”.
The Sunshine Tour’s rising stars are set for another season of incredible opportunity with the four European Challenge Tour co-sanctioned tournaments that will tee off the new year on South African fairways.
Frontrunner Robin Williams ensured he was not just hiring the lead on the final day of the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday, shooting an impressive four-under-par 68 as he strode to an emphatic six-stroke victory and his maiden Sunshine Tour title.
The young Sunshine Tour trio of Aldrich Potgieter, Dylan Naidoo and Luca Filippi were in awe of their first experience of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as professionals as they walked the fairways of the fabled Old Course in wind and rain in St Andrews on Wednesday.
Antoine Rozner has confirmed that he will defend his AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title when this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament is played at the spectacular new La Réserve Golf Links from 14-17 December.
Kyle Barker claimed his second Sunshine Tour title this year when he won the Vodacom Origins of Golf in a playoff at the Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate on Sunday.
On the first tee at this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge will be two icons of this tournament – Gary Player and the famous crystal trophy awarded to the winner of ‘Africa’s Major’. Both were there when this tournament first teed off in 1981. Player has shaken the hands of the greatest in golf to play in this event, and the trophy bears their names.
Gerhard Pepler made his talent and mental strength public on Friday as he came from four strokes behind to claim a thrilling victory in the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge at the White River Country Club and earn his maiden win on the Sunshine Tour.