When South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen made a 16-foot eagle putt on the par-five closing hole to win the World Wide Technology Championship he and caddie Alex Gaugert’s long embrace showed that the victory meant more than most people could imagine.

Van Rooyen opened play on Sunday with a bogey on the par-five 1st and made birdies on the 2nd and 6th holes. In his back-nine charge, he birdied the 10-12th, 14th, 16th and 17th. The win helped him move up the FedExCup Fall standings from starting the week on the bubble – at No 125 – to No 63. His victory means he’s fully exempt on the PGA Tour through 2025. And although the Majors have yet to release their official qualifying criteria, Van Rooyen will be able to count on starts at The Masters and The PGA Championship as both are expected to yield exemptions for traditional qualifiers.

But, while victory was needed to secure his immediate PGA Tour future, Van Rooyen was playing for more than a trophy. As he chronicled after the tournament, his good friend, best and former teammate at the University of Minnesota, Jon Trasamar, is battling cancer. Trasamar and his family met Van Rooyen at the airport when he arrived in the US from South Africa as a 19-year-old and they were college roommates for three years. They remained firm friends, with Tresamar a best man at his wedding nine years ago.

The eventual champion needed to finish the tournament effectively to be able to focus on a trip to Minnesota to see Trasamar for, likely, one of the last times. On Saturday night he said a win would “mean everything” because it would secure his job for 2024 and he could go home to see his friend.

“Every shot out there today was for him,” Van Rooyen said, minutes after his victory was confirmed. "When you're playing for something bigger than winning some silly trophy it puts it in perspective and at the end of the day whether I won here or I lost here it really didn't matter.”

SUPPLIED/INSTAGRAM

After a challenging few weeks where he battled with an injury, Neil Schietekat was rewarded with a two-stroke victory at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at the Pezula Championship Course on Sunday.

Schietekat showed every bit of his experience as he closed with a 67 to win on 15 under par, with Jacques P de Villiers finishing second on 13 under after a final round of 70. Hennie O’Kennedy took third place on 10 under par after signing for a 69.

Tara Griebenow finished as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional in the field on five over par with a final round of 75.

It’s been a tough period for Schietekat as he had to carry an injury while still playing in Asia at a critical part in the season. But it culminated in his second victory this season after winning the FBC Zimbabwe Open in May.

“It was a good week and I really want to thank my caddie for sticking with me through this injury and when the golf has struggled. But this brings us both a smile,” said Schietekat, who also won the magnificent prize of a six-night Christmas cruise courtesy of MSC Cruises South Africa.

It’s also his second victory on a Vodacom Origins of Golf series that he’s been playing on since he arrived on the Sunshine Tour in 2007.

“This one is definitely a sweet win for me. Vodacom has been part of the Sunshine Tour ever since I started out. They’ve been a great supporter of the Tour. Without them we wouldn’t have had the playing opportunities we do in the winter. Pezula was also just amazing this week.”

TYRONE WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR

South Africa’s James Kingston claimed his third Legends Tour victory after shooting a final-day course-record 61 at the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open in late October.

Kingston, winner of the event the last time it was held at San Domenico in 2021, started the final day seven shots adrift of the lead. However, he started the round in superb fashion, making a birdie and then an eagle at the opening two holes. He found the water hazard at the 5th hole and made a bogey, but this only galvanised his charge.

Eight birdies in his next 10 holes, including four in a row from the 6th to the 10th, propelled him rapidly up the leaderboard. Further birdies followed at 12, 14 and 15 before he finished in style – making birdie at the last to reach 16 under par.

“I would say it’s up there as one of my best rounds, I hit some really good shots, even when it wasn’t close it was either at the flag or pin high. I drove the ball extremely well today and hit a few really good iron shots too, and then to score 61 you’ve got to make those putts and today I did that!

“I didn’t expect to shoot 61 and to challenge for the win but I knew you could shoot a good round from 66 or 65; 61 doesn’t happen every day and when it does it is nice! I think I should look for a bit of land around here – it’s my happy place!”

Kingston’s compatriot, Keith Horne, started off well in the final group, with a run of three birdies in five holes before the turn to push him into contention. But he struggled to make a score on the back nine and would end in fourth place on 14 under par.

LEGENDS TOUR/GETTY IMAGES

SUNSHINE TOUR

The Sunshine Tour’s professionals are set for another season of incredible opportunity with four European Challenge Tour co-sanctioned tournaments that will take place in South Africa in February 2024 – the SDC Open, Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open, Dimension Data Pro-Am and NMB Championship.

The value of these events in South Africa was clearly seen last season when Sunshine Tour professionals made a clean sweep of all four of these titles. Oliver Bekker used his victory at the Dimension Data Pro-Am to secure his DP World Tour card. Benjamin Follett-Smith (Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open), JJ Senekal (SDC Open) and Dylan Mostert (NMB Championship) all used their victories to play the Challenge Tour in search of a DP World Tour card.

In 2024, the Challenge Tour’s South African Swing will tee off with the SDC Open at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa from 1-4 February, followed by the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 8-11 February, the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt from 15-18 February, and the NMB Championship at Humewood Golf Club from 22-25 February.

“The longstanding partnership between our two Tours has been an invaluable step on the global pathway for Sunshine Tour professionals seeking to develop their careers on the international stage,” said Thomas Abt, commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

“It’s a vital opportunity for our members early in the new year to set themselves up for a strong international season that can allow them to progress on to the DP World Tour, and we’re grateful to our partners at the Challenge Tour for being able to keep strengthening this relationship.”

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has confirmed that 10-time LPGA major champion Annika Sorenstam, who retired from the Tour in 2008, has become the newest female member at Augusta National, which began inviting women as members in 2012.

“I’ve known Annika for quite some time, and I think she is going to be a great addition to the club,” Ridley said at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Melbourne. “I can tell you, she can still play, and she was just a delight to be with.”

Ridley added: “We have a number of women members, I think it has made us a better club, and they are an integral part of our culture. They have been great contributors to our organisation, I would say substantively and with the things they are doing to help us, with The Masters and otherwise.”

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and investor Darla Moore were the first women welcomed after the club changed its rules to allow female members to join. And while it is uncertain exactly how many women members there are, it is clear Sorenstam has joined an exclusive club.

Speaking before the 2022 Masters, a decade after the first female players joined Augusta, Ridley said: “Women members are a very important part of our membership, and you will continue to see over the years, if you look, more green jackets that are women. I’m going to make sure of that.”

Augusta National was founded as a men's-only club in 1932 and it began hosting The Masters in 1934.

Tristan Jones/LET

Thriston Lawrence has confirmed he will defend his Investec South African Open title at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate from 30 November to 3 December. The 2023 edition of this prestigious event aims to give all South Africans an unforgettable experience at the country’s most historic tournament.

Lawrence is back to defend a title that saw him realise a childhood dream when he completed a thrilling final round in 2022 to win by one stroke. “This is the one you want to win – your national Open. It was so special to have Gary Player watching too. He’s won 13 of these, and now I’ve also got one... It’s what you dream of,” he said.

Lawrence will be joined by a quality Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned field that includes former Investec SA Open champions Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Daniel van Tonder and Brandon Stone, as well as Dean Burmester, Erik van Rooyen and Charl Schwartzel.

The celebration of the second-oldest national Open in golf will also include an ‘Out of the Ordinary’ experience for the highest-placed professional (who is not already exempt for the championship) in the Papwa Sewgolum Class. The Sunshine Tour’s transformation programme, of which Investec is a patron, will reward the player with a spot in the 156-man field as they chase the $1.5-million in prize money.

There will also be a greater focus on family entertainment with an expanded and premier viewing through exclusive greenside hospitality as well as a new driving range grandstand and several other interactive competitions. A new grandstand on the driving range will also give fans a unique view of the professionals warming up.

Fans keeping an eye on social media and who purchase tickets to the golf will also stand a chance to win a VIP experience including a seat on the couch right next to the 18th green as well as VIP hospitality. Tickets for the Investec SA Open can be purchased at www.sunshinetour.com.

CARL FOURIE/SUNSHINE TOUR

Christo Lamprecht, Christiaan Maas and Altin van der Merwe gave South Africans plenty to cheer about with an outstanding performance at the 33rd World Amateur Team Championships in October.

The SA team signed off with a seventh-place finish at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to mark the best result for Team South Africa since 1982. The trio combined for rounds of 139, 138, 138 and 139 to finish with a 22-under-par total of 554.

In the sweltering conditions, it was former World No 1 Lamprecht who spearheaded the relentless charge against the best players in the world. The Georgia Tech standout fired rounds of 71, 68, 68 and 70 to finish tie-eighth on 11 under.

Texas University’s Maas (below) tied for 17th with rounds of 70, 70, 71 and 69, while GolfRSA No 1 Van der Merwe, making his debut in the global showpiece, followed an opening three-under 69 with rounds of 71, 70 and 71 to tie for 24th.

The trio became only the third South African team to finish in the top 10 since 1980, when Etienne Groenewald, Duncan Lindsay-Smith, Wayne Player & David Suddards recorded a runner-up finish at Pinehurst in the US. Lindsay-Smith and Suddards partnered Neil James to a sixth-place finish in Switzerland in 1982, and in 1998, Jean Hugo, Trevor Immelman and Dean Lambert finished tie-10th in Chile.

The US side, led by new World No 1 Gordon Sargent, were hotly fancied and notched their 16th Eisenhower Trophy title on 36-under 540, finishing 11 shots clear of their nearest challengers, Norway and Australia.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Caitlyn Macnab, Kajal Mistry and Megan Streicher struggled from the onset at the 30th Espirito Santo Trophy after an opening round of 149. The trio battled hard to improve their standings, but the challenging conditions put paid to their hopes, especially after a tie-15th finish in France last year. The side slipped to 27th overall after further rounds of 144, 146 and 145.

Macnab was the top performer for Team South Africa at the women’s championship for a third year running. The Ole Miss junior placed tie-25th with rounds of 73, 71, 70 and 73. Streicher, a second-year student at the University of North Carolina, opened with rounds of 76 and 73, and rallied with a final-round 72 after carding 80 in the third round to tie for 81st, while Arkansas University senior Mistry, also making her third successive appearance for South Africa, tied for 84th (76, 74, 76 and 77).

World No 4 Minsol Kim led the Republic of Korea to their fourth Espirito Santo Trophy victory in the last seven competitions and their fifth all time. Korea's 72-hole score of 22-under-par 554 was four strokes better than runners-up Chinese Taipei, and five better than the third-placed Spain.

STEVEN GIBBONS/USGA/GOLFRSA

GolfRSA Proteas Jordan Burnand and Ivan Verster continued South Africa’s proud record at the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup with a top-four finish in Argentina in November.

Torrential rain caused several suspensions in the opening round at Los Lagartos Country Club, which forced the organisers to abandon play and reduce the event to 54 holes.

The GolfRSA National Squad pair only got their campaign started on the second day. Burnand fired an opening two-under-par 69 and Verster shot level, which placed the team in joint second with Switzerland. Canadian pair Felix Bourchard and Brady McKinlay led from start to finish and earned their country a second victory on four-under 422. Denmark and Switzerland shared second on 426.

The SA duo finished a further shot back in fourth after adding rounds of 143 and 144, with defending champions Spain rounding out the top five on four over par. Verster tied for fifth on one under in the individual competition, and Burnand finished tie-12th.

“You always feel like you could have done better, but we are happy we managed to finish in the top four,” Burnand said. “Ivan was really solid throughout, and I am proud of how he handled his first time wearing the green and gold. I was a little disappointed with my performance, but we are still proud that we kept South Africa’s record of top-five finishes in the Copa Tailhade alive and we look forward to the next one.”

The next stop on their two-week tour to South America is the 72-hole Argentine Amateur Championship, the world’s sixth-oldest amateur championship, at the Martindale Golf Club from 8-11 November.

Verster said the experience so far has been amazing. “Jordan and I are really grateful for this opportunity,” the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation member said. “We have been cycling around Pilar, exploring the city and taking in the culture; we’ve struck up some new friendships and we are enjoying the legendary Argentinian beef. We also had a chance to pay it forward at a junior golf development clinic, which was a lot of fun. I think we built up some good confidence at Los Lagartos, and we are we are itching to start the Argentine Amateur.”

DID YOU KNOW?

South Africa have won the prestigious Copa Tailhade twice since it started in 1996 and have enjoyed a run of nine top-five finishes since 2011*. Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman and multiple Sunshine Tour winner Ulrich van den Berg romped to victory in 1997, and Ryan Dreyer and JG Claassen were victorious in 2009.

2011 – Jared Harvey & Graham van der Merwe (3rd)

2012 – Drikus Bruyns & CJ du Plessis (T-4)

2014 – Gerlou Roux & Callum Mowat (5th)

2015 – Tristen Strydom & Teaghan Gauche (5th)

2016 – Kyle McClatchie & Aubrey Beckley (5th)

2017 – Matt Saulez & Malcolm Mitchell (4th)

2018 – Luca Filippi &Therion Nel (5th)

2019 – Luca Filippi & Kyle de Beer (4th)

2023 – Jordan Burnand & Ivan Verster (4th)

*No events were held in 2013, or 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and SA did not compete in 2022.

GOLFRSA

Just as they did a year ago at Devonvale, Gauteng North steamrolled their way to a successful title defence at the 2023 SA Mid-Amateur Inter-Provincial at Reading Country Club in October. In a dominating show of force, the Daisies picked off Western Province, Ekurhuleni, Eastern Province and KwaZulu-Natal to head into the final day at the top of the standings. North West got the better of them, narrowly winning their final contest 6.5-5.5, but Central Gauteng could not bring the defending champions to their knees and a commanding 8-4 victory pulled the Daisies over the line.

“We knew it would be a tough final day,” said Gauteng North manager Gerry Few. “The stakes were high, and just like last year, they never gave up. I am immensely proud of their achievement and of how they fought for every point in those final two matches. The team spirit spoke volumes of the pride in our camp and their commitment to each other and our union. Next year we will be gunning for a hat-trick.”

A-SECTION FINAL LOG

1 Gauteng North (10 points | 46 game points)

2 Central Gauteng (9 points | 41.5 game points)

3 North West (6 points | 38.5 game points)

4 Ekurhuleni (6 points | 35 game points)

5 Western Province (6 points | 33 game points)

6 Eastern Province (4 points | 31.5 game points)

7 KwaZulu-Natal (1 point | 26.5 game points)

Twelve months ago, the promotion battle went down to the wire, with KwaZulu-Natal edging Northern Cape in the closing stretch to claim B-Section glory. But this time around, Northern Cape (below) were not to be denied.

After a 6-all draw against Free State in the opening round, Francois Mulder’s charges stepped up their challenge and routed Southern Cape, Boland and Mpumalanga in succession to cement their lead on the log. And they didn’t let up until the final putt dropped, defeating Free State with a 7.5-4.5 victory in the final round to clinch the deal. The fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude Northern Cape brought to Reading will serve them well when they take on the big dogs in the A-Section in 2024.

B-SECTION FINAL LOG

1 Northern Cape (9 points | 37 game points)

2 Free State (7 points | 32.5 game points)

3 Southern Cape (6 points | 33 game points)

4 Limpopo (5 points | 31.5 game points)

5 Boland (2 points | 23.5 game points)

6 Mpumalanga (1 point | 22.5 game points)

GOLFRSA

Western Province senior Greg Woodbridge joined former SA greats Morgan Phillips (2018 and 2019) and Mellette Hendrikse (2013 and 2014) with successive feats at the SA Senior Amateur Championship with his outstanding victory at Sishen Golf Club in October.

In 2022 Woodbridge produced the round of his life on the final day at East London Golf Club to pull away from the chasing pack and win the premier title by four shots. This time, he did it by overhauling the leader in the final round at Kalahari Golf Estate.

The 55-year-old, who plays out of Atlantic Beach Links, was five shots off the pace starting the final round after successive rounds of 75. He closed the gap on front-runner Graeme Watson with a birdie-birdie start and negated a bogey at the 3rd with a birdie on the 6th, but he was still trailing Watson after dropping shots on the 10th and 12th holes. Playing a few groups ahead of the leader, Woodbridge made a superb birdie on the par-three 17th and parred the final hole for a 71.

The only player to fire a sub-par score in the final round to close out his campaign on five-over 221, Woodbridge and wife/caddie Candice were considering returning to Cape Town when Watson double-bogeyed the 16th. Two holes later, and two more bogeys from Watson, and the title was Woodbridge’s again.

“This felt quite surreal because it was so unexpected,” said Woodbridge. “At the start of the round I thought if I could get under par, I might have a chance. Then when Graeme doubled 16, I thought maybe a playoff.

“It was really tough out there. It was dry and the ball bounced around. I just did my best to stay patient and to make the best score I could on every hole. To win back-to-back is very special, because there are so many great golfers out there.”

FINAL RESULT

221 Greg Woodbridge 75 75 71

223 Gordon Wessels 74 74 75

224 Craig Kamps 79 69 76; Graeme Watson 69 76 79

226 Douglas McCabe 76 73 77; Weyers Janse van Rensburg 75 73 78

227 Clive Williams 77 78 72; Charl Swart 75 74 78; Cameron Johnston 74 79 74

228 Neale Gandy 78 75 75

GOLFRSA

Former powerhouse Central Gauteng is back in ascendancy, having swept to victory at the South African Inter-Provincial and South African Women’s Inter-Provincial Tournaments. The men’s team collected all 10 points on offer in an unchallenged victory at East London Golf Club in September, while the women’s team reeled in 11 points to finish at the summit at Umhlali Country Club in early October.

The Lions have dominated the men’s national team’s tournament since 2000 with 11 victories, but it was their first time back in the winner’s circle since their successive wins at Bryanston Country Club in 2017 and Oubaai Golf Club in 2018. Having routed North West and Free State 7-5 over the first two days, Central Gauteng were pushed on day three by Eastern Province, but they scraped through for a 6.5-5.5 win. An 8-4 win against Ekurhuleni on day four kept them at the top of the log.

On the final day, Filip Sakota, Jaden Deltel, Gustav de Lange, Sean Paxton, Kayle Wykes, Grant Labuschagne, Rees Emanuel and Simon handed two-time defending champions Western Province an 8-4 drubbing to seal victory.

Southern Cape (below) – relegated at San Lameer in 2021 – fought their way back into the A Section with an undefeated performance in Buffalo City.

It took even longer for the women to end the title drought, but returning to the scene of their 2016 success proved to be the catalyst to get the Lions back in the winner’s circle. Charlotte Millard, Casey Twidale, Gia Raad and Cara Ford threw down the gauntlet with three straight 6-0 sweeps against Boland, Ekurhuleni and Southern Cape, and held local favourites KwaZulu-Natal to a 3-3 draw over the first two days at the coast.

The Lions (below) continued their dominance with a 3.5-2.5 win against Western Province on day three and sealed victory with a resounding 4.5-1.5 win against defending champions Gauteng North on the final day.

Lauren van der Merwe, Crystal Janse van Rensburg, Maegan Webster and Megan Marais were equally impressive for North West (bottom) in the B Section. The quartet stacked up wins against Mpumalanga, Western Province B, Eastern Province, Limpopo and Free State to clinch the promotion battle with a winning record of 10 points.

GOLFRSA

Jack Buchanan from Western Province showed his off his coastal prowess to come out on top at the Dimension Data U-19 Open, while Eastern Province junior Shaun Viljoen impressed with a first national win at the Dimension Data U-15 Open.

In August, Buchanan led from start to finish at the Nomads National Order of Merit tournament at St Francis Links, and he once again proved the player to beat in the Southern Cape. The Milnerton golfer backed up an opening four-under 68 at Kingswood Golf Estate with a bogey-free 65 at George Golf Club in the second round.

Starting the final round four shots clear of his closest challenger, Nelis de Bruin, Buchanan back-pedalled with two early bogeys, but he rallied with a brace of gains on the 14th and 15th holes and parred his way to a five-shot victory.

Buchanan, who also won the Dimension Data U-15 Open in 2019, was delighted with the win. “I haven’t played much tournament golf since August due to exams and prelims, so to post a bogey-free round on the second day was great,” he said. “I played nicely at Kingswood, too, just made a few silly bogeys. The final day was tough in the wind, but I am happy that pulled it through with a level-par round.

“Obviously being from Cape Town and growing up on coastal golf, you learn to play in the wind and to adapt your game to the conditions. George is a tight layout that demands accuracy off the tees, so it feels good coming out of this with the win.”

Viljoen aid the foundation for his wire-to-wire win with an opening round of two-under-par 70 at George Golf Club.

In the second round at Kingswood Golf Estate, the 13-year-old offset three bogeys with a trio of birdies and opened up a two-shot lead. A final-round 73 at George Golf Club not only secured the win on one-under 215, but the St Francis golfer was the only player in the field to finish with a sub-par total.

“My ball striking over the three rounds was really good, but my short game was the key to the win,” he said. “Now it’s all about building experience. I’m going to compete at the Cape Town Junior Open and then play some of the tournaments in Johannesburg. I hope that playing in the Highveld, which is different to the coast, and competing against the top golfers in the country, will help me improve my game.”

GOLFRSA

Southern Cape went wire-to-wire at Magersfontein Golf Club to win the Nomads SA U-13 Championship, while Jordan Groenewald delivered a captain’s innings to lift the individual title.

Over three days in the Northern Cape, Groenewald, Wynand Roeloffze, Jean-Prieur du Plessis, Jonty Milne, FC Els and Luca Viljoen combined for rounds of 391, 410 and 394 to claim a four-shot victory over Gauteng North.

Groenewald anchored the side with rounds of 69, 77 and 71, and his one-over-par 217 total earned the Kingswood junior his first national victory. He finished four shots clear of Gauteng North’s Jacques Olivier and five ahead of Aiden Combrinck from Ekurhuleni.

“It was a great performance from the entire team,” said team manager Roelof Roelofffze. “They are such a talented group of juniors, and I am very proud of how they held up under pressure to lead from start to finish.

“We always stress the importance of enjoying a tournament like this, but I believe that when kids this age take things too seriously, they tend to lose focus. We kept them busy after rounds with fishing and braais, and when it was time for them to tee it up, we told them to go out there and do their best, but to have fun and to enjoy it.

“We are also very proud of Jordan’s achievement. Winning this championship was huge for the entire team, but especially for Jordan after he came so close at the Ernie Els SA Primary Schools Championship a few months ago. It’s a great bunch of boys, and they represented Southern Cape with such pride, on and off the course.”

GOLFRSA

North West junior Janko van der Merwe closed out his second victory in two months when he swept to a one-shot victory at the 2023 Cape Town Junior Open. And just like he did at the Nomads North & South Championship triumph at Pecanwood Golf & Country Club in August, he hit the front in round one, and never let up.

Playing the King David Mowbray Golf Club course blind, he made a superb start with an opening four-under-par 68 that featured six birdies. However, the Magalies Park golfer struggled to keep the putter hot in the afternoon and signed for a frustrating 77 that left him sharing pole position on one-over 145 with Bryanston’s Peter Watt, who returned a one-under 71.

Van der Merwe gave shot back to the field at the par-four second in the final round but then the 17-year-old racked up five birdies on the trot from the 5th hole. He dropped on the 11th but negated the bogey with a sixth birdie on the par-five 14th and, despite an errant tee shot at the ultimate hole and double-bogey finish, Van der Merwe had put enough daylight between himself and the chasing pack to win by one on one-under 215.

“It’s a tough track, especially when you haven’t played it before and when the wind is up, like it was on the first day. I really enjoyed it, though, because I like playing courses that test my course management,” said Van der Merwe.

“I had a frustrating time with the putter in the second round, but thankfully, it came to the party over the last 18 holes. I have been working on some things in my game, and it’s nice to see the work pay off. I really enjoyed this one; it was tough but fun.”

Fellow GolfRSA National Squad members Devon Valentine and Fabrizio de Abreu closed with respective rounds of 69 and 70 to finish one shot adrift in joint second place.

GOLFRSA