Watch how Ash Buhai became the first back-to-back ISPS HANDA Australian Open Golf champion in more than a decade

Watch how Ash Buhai became the first back-to-back ISPS HANDA Australian Open Golf champion in more than a decade

Boosted by the passion of the fans and the feeling of being back home, Dean Burmester won the Joburg Open by three strokes at Houghton Golf Club. With a final round of 64, he claimed his third DP World Tour title on 18 under par and booked his place at the 2024 Open Championship as the first of the top-three finishers not already exempt for the Major.

On the final day, Darren Fichardt charged through the field with a 64 to finish second on 15 under par, with defending champion Dan Bradbury also making a run at it with a 64 to finish third on 13 under par. They took the other two spots on offer for The Open.

“It sounds pretty cool to be the Joburg Open champion,” said Burmester. “I’ve been playing this event for so long and to win it is amazing. To win a tournament in my home country in front of my home fans with some of my family here is very special.”

Having started his career on the Sunshine Tour, with his first title at the 2013 Polokwane Classic, Burmester paid tribute to a Tour which remains close to his heart.

“The Sunshine Tour is a special place and there are a lot of friends here. It’s a great breeding ground for world golf. I also knew what was at stake for me. My Sunshine Tour category was running out and the only way I could keep my card and keep supporting the Tour was to win. That was my goal coming back here. I’m proud of myself, and I’m proud to be the Joburg Open champion.”

CARL FOURIE/SUNSHINE TOUR

PGA TOUR/GETTY IMAGES

Aldrich Potgieter secured his chance to chase down a PGA Tour card for 2024 after the big-hitting South African produced another winning performance at the Second Stage PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry at the beginning of December.

The GolfRSA National Squad graduate earned the medallist honours at the Georgia qualifier with a four-stroke victory on 13 under after rounds of 67, 69, 68 and 71 at the challenging Kinderlou Forest track. Next stop will be TPC Sawgrass from 14-17 December where the five finishers and ties will earn cards for the world’s biggest pro circuit.

Potgieter’s successful amateur career included victory at the Nomads SA Juniors International. He also romped to a 20-shot victory at the Nomads SA Boys Under-19 Stroke Play Championship at Royal Cape where he became just the fifth golfer to complete the double with an 8 & 7 triumph at the Match Play Championship.

A mix of talent and determination carried him into the 36-hole The Amateur Championship final at Royal Lytham & St Annes during the National Squad’s mid-year tour to the UK, where he rode to a 3 & 2 victory. Just 17 at the time, Potgieter became the second-youngest winner in the event’s 127-year history. The prestigious title also came with starts at The Open Championship and the 2023 Masters and US Open.

Potgieter enjoyed another winning season in 2023 with his triumph at the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Leopard Creek. He also went wire-to-wire at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina and won the limited-field Junior Invitational by 10 strokes. In the prelude to his Augusta National debut in April, he defeated 2022 US Amateur champion Sam Bennett 5 up to lift the Georgia Cup at The Golf Club Georgia.

After making the weekend at the US Open and, having taken advantage of the experience his Major starts afforded him, Potgieter joined the pro ranks in June. Now, just four months later, he is another step closer to living the PGA Tour dream that started 13 years ago. His prodigious rise through the amateur ranks in the past four years alludes to a bright career in the paid ranks. Securing his Korn Ferry Tour card for 2024 is certainly the first step.

LEGENDS TOUR/GETTY IMAGES

Adilson Da Silva clinched a three-shot victory over American Scott Hend at the inaugural Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam 2023 to claim his fourth win of an incredible season. The Brazilian, a multiple Sunshine Tour winner, shot a final-round 68 to reach 10 under par and seal a wire-to-wire triumph at Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang.

Da Silva started the day with a two-shot lead after rounds of 66 and 69, and he never let anyone get closer than that throughout the final day in Vietnam. He closed off his round with a superb 30-footer for birdie at the 17th to give himself a three-shot cushion up the last where his tap-in for par was greeted by cheers from the Vietnamese fans.

“It’s been such an amazing and wonderful week,” said the champion. “To win here, with so many nice people cheering for you and all they’ve done for us this week, is extra special.”

Four wins in one season equals a Legends Tour record, and Da Silva has been putting in the work to achieve his amazing success.

Da Silva and James Kingston, who tied for 28th at seven over, will be heading to Mauritius next, where the MCB Tour Championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage will draw the curtain on the 2023 season. Kingston was crowned the Order of Merit champion here in 2022 – who will capture the 2023 MCB Road to Mauritius title?

CHRIS TURVEY/ROLEX/FABIO FRUSTACI/EPA/BACKPAGEPIX

Luke Donald has been named the European captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. The 45-year-old Englishman returns to the role having led Europe to a comprehensive 16½-11½ victory against the United States at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy, earlier this year.

He was widely praised by the European team after the victory, and the news of his appointment for 2025 was met with great enthusiasm by the players.

Donald will be aiming to become only the second captain to lead Europe to victories home and away, following Tony Jacklin who achieved the double at Muirfield Village in Ohio in 1987, retaining the Ryder Cup after his team’s victory two years previously at The Belfry, in England, in 1985.

Donald said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been given the chance to lead Team Europe at the Ryder Cup once again. I’ve been fortunate as a player to have had many amazing times at the Ryder Cup over the years, so to add being a winning captain to that, to form bonds with the 12 players like we did in Italy and to get the result we did, was very special indeed.

“The Ryder Cup means so much to me, so to be captain again and have the chance to create more history by becoming only the second European captain to win back-to-back is exciting. I can’t wait to get another 12-strong team to Bethpage in 2025.”

Kyra van Kan is one of two accomplished amateurs who has been added to Tennessee women’s golf’s 2024 signing class. The GolfRSA National Squad member, who has represented her country at tournaments in Egypt, Japan, Scotland, USA, Uganda and Indonesia, is set to join the Lady Vols next season.

A three-time finalist at the South Africa Women’s Amateur Championship, Van Kan won the tournament in February 2023 and was the leading amateur at the Investec South Africa Women’s Open (below). Her other victories include the 2023 Nomads SA Girls Rose Bowl, which she won by a whopping 13-stroke margin.

“I am very excited to have Kyra join our Lady Vol Golf family,” said Tennessee head coach Diana Cantú. “She has a ton of competitive experience and has accomplished a lot in a short career. She is determined and doesn’t stop until she reaches her goals, which has led to a lot of success for her in South Africa and at international level.”

“I am excited about making new friends who will be family, and forming bonds with people and my coaches,” said Van Kan. “Tennessee is granting me the life and opportunities I have always wanted, and I know I can achieve my goals while I am over there.”

ERNEST BLIGNAULT/GOLFRSA/SUNSHINE TOUR

Nicolai Højgaard won his first Rolex Series title as a back-nine birdie barrage saw him sign for a closing 64 and a two-shot victory at the DP World Tour Championship. The Dane had led after the first two days at Jumeirah Golf Estates but entered the final round three shots off the pace before pulling himself into contention with a front nine of 33.

He reeled off five birdies in a row from the 13th to get to 21 under and hold off the challenge of Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland, and overnight leader Matt Wallace.

Højgaard had finished second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and brought that form to Dubai, where he is now a three-time DP World Tour champion, and entered the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence closed his DP World Tour Championship campaign with a six-under-par 66 to finish in a share of fifth on 17 under par. His strong finish also resulted in him moving up six spots on the Race to Dubai rankings to 19th. The other South African who made it into the season finale was Zander Lombard. He stayed at 32nd in the rankings after a closing two-under-par 70 saw him finish on 10 under par in a share of 22nd.

Meanwhile, McIlroy won the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings with a week to spare in a season that saw him win two Rolex Series events, secure three top-10s at Majors and miss just one cut on the DP World Tour. Claiming his fifth Harry Vardon trophy to add to his victories in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2022, the Northern Irishman is now third on the all-time list, just one short of the late, great Seve Ballesteros and three behind the record of Colin Montgomerie.

DP WORLD TOUR/GETTY IMAGES/ALI HAIDER/EPA/BACKPAGEPIX

NIC BOTHMA/MATRIX IMAGES

David Watts put on a masterful 36-hole performance at the Physically-Disabled Medal division of the Cape Town Disabled Golf Open hosted by The City of Cape Town at King David Mowbray Golf Club in November.

He fired scores of 72 and 75 despite winds reaching gale-force speeds throughout the event. Beginning the final round with a six-shot lead over Kelvin van Baalen after an opening round of even-par 72, Watts overcame challenges to record three closing pars and win by an eye-popping 10 shots over Van Baalen, who signed for a round of 79.

After two solid rounds of 80 and 83, Charles Williams emerged as the Cape Town Disabled Golf Open Deaf Medal champion, prevailing by four strokes over Jay-Jay Botha.

In the final round, Williams found himself five over par after as many holes. Another dropped shot at the 8th saw him carding a front-nine 42. His first red number of the day at the 11th was immediately offset by bogeys at the 12th, 13th and 14th. Though another bogey at the 17th followed, Williams closed with a par at the 18th which was a terrific way to cap off his competitive golf year.

The Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational celebrated another memorable weekend where business leaders, sports stars, celebrities and Sunshine Tour professionals rallied in support of a dream to keep changing lives as they raised R3-million for the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.

Gary Player appreciated the response to helping ensure the sustainability of the school he and his late wife, Vivienne, started in 1990 and which the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation and its partners continue to support through this tournament at the Lost City Golf Course.

“I have been blessed to have experienced great success in my career and life, and for that I am truly grateful. I am overwhelmed by the show of support from all the wonderful people who gave up their time to be with us and help me keep a promise to my late wife Vivienne that we will secure the future of the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School we both started,” said Player.

The 36-hole pro-am tournament was won by the team of Sunshine Tour professional Robin Williams, business leaders Neil and Pam Senior, and chef and restaurateur Reuben Riffel on 188 points.

But more important than the trophy is the fact this event once again brought together what has become a close family of people who know the value of opportunity and what it can mean in a child’s life.

The Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational winning team of Robin Williams, Pam Senior, Gary Player, Neil Senior and Reuben Riffel

SUPPLIED/MICHAEL VLISMAS MEDIA

Andrew Williamson carded a four-under-par 68 in the final round of the Altron Big Easy Tour at Blue Valley Golf Estate in mid-November to claim his first professional win on 13-under-par 203.

The Irene Golf Club member brought a one-stroke lead into the final round and needed a strong start to keep his momentum. After three birdies in the first five holes, Williamson was able to bounce back after making only his third bogey just before the turn. The the 28-year-old then kept things cool while managing tricky situations with the mastery of a seasoned professional.

“It’s difficult to put it into words right now,” said an emotional Williamson after his maiden Tour victory. “My goal for the week was just to enjoy the game because, with the way my golf has been going the past few years, it’s easy to dig yourself into a rut and not appreciate the small victories. One of those is just enjoying the game for what it is and this week, I did that. The results took care of themselves. So, sometimes less is more.”

TROY WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR

As the year draws to an end, the Club Management Association of South Africa (CMASA) has launched its 2024/25 CMASA Education Guide to the club industry.

CMASA has an amazing and varied lineup of webinars that are balanced between operational, technical and leadership topics. The target audience for each webinar is indicated in the guide, and the operational topics will allow attendees to take away practical tools they can implement in their day-to-day jobs right away.

Four new education providers have also joined RCA and Newbridge as education partners: Oxbridge, Impactful, SA Accounting Academy and Kath Tucker. These partners have provided fantastic discounts for clubs and club employees who would like to focus on their long-term career development.

For a preview of the year ahead, have a look at the training guide here: 

SUPPLIED/SUNSHINE TOUR