Seven new caps will make their debut for South Africa at two prestigious African team events, sponsored by The R&A and hosted by the Africa Golf Confederation, in April and May.

Dylan Kayne, Charl Barnard, Gia Raad and GolfRSA’s No 1-ranked Women’s Open amateur Kesha Louw (above) have been awarded junior national colours for the All Africa Junior Teams Championship in South Africa. Oliver Goldhill, JP van der Watt GolfRSA’s top ranked U15 player and reigning Nomads SA Boys U15 champion Ben Weber (below) have been named in the South African team that will compete at the Africa Region 5 Golf Tournament in Lusaka.

The boys and girls teams will be taking up the country’s title defence at the All Africa Junior Teams Championship against the top talents from other African nations at the 72-hole tournament, which will be hosted by GolfRSA at Benoni Country Club from 23-26 April.

The Africa Region 5 Golf Tournament will be hosted by the Zambia Golf Union from 27-31 May at Lusaka Golf Course.

“Congratulations to all the players selected, they have enjoyed a strong run on GolfRSA’s Open and Junior circuits in the past 12 months and are deserving of this opportunity to represent our country and GolfRSA on the international stage. We are confident that all three teams are up to the task of making South Africa proud,” said South African Golf Association president Henk Smith.

Womens Golf South Africa president Susan Andrew was equally delighted with the selection of Raad and Louw, who will join Zane Kleynhans at the 2024 Africa Junior Teams Championship.

“It is one of the premier events on the African continent’s annual schedule. We relish this wonderful development opportunity for our players to test themselves against the best young golfers in Africa,” she said.

GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn added his congratulations. “Both events attract strong fields from across the continent and we are delighted to present our junior and senior rising stars with the chance to compete at this level. They have acquitted themselves very well over the past 12 months and we have no doubt they will represent the country with pride.”

GOLFRSA

Matteo Manassero marked his return to the DP World Tour winner’s circle for the first time since the 2013 BMW PGA Championship in a dramatic victory befitting the journey he has been on over the past 11 years when he won the Jonsson Workwear Open in the dark at Glendower Golf Club.

With a late weather delay putting the finish of the Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned tournament in doubt, play resumed at 18:00 and Manassero completed a finish of four straight birdies for a 66 and a three-stroke victory on 26 under par. The win also meant he moved back inside the world’s top 200 for the first time since March 2015, climbing from 381st to 182nd.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s wonderful to experience these emotions again on a golf course,” said Manassero, whose journey from golf prodigy to the wilderness and then back again is one of the great fairytales in the game.

"It’s really difficult to put into words. I don’t want to look at the past and the tougher times. I want to enjoy the moment. To finish like I did was incredible. I’ve been through a lot of emotions and it seems like it was written somewhere that after the restart I would finish with two more birdies,” he said as he delivered his winning speech.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence made a late charge as he shot a final-round 63 to finish in a share of second with compatriot Shaun Norris (68) and England’s Jordan Smith (68) on 23 under par. Lawrence started the day six shots behind but two eagles, six birdies and just one bogey put him in contention until Manassero’s birdie flourish at the end of his round.

Long-time women’s sport advocate, Investec, has announced the sponsorship of 25-year-old South African professional golfer, Danielle du Toit.

In what she describes as the most exciting time for women’s sport, Du Toit says the crucial success factor behind individual sporting success, and the overall elevation of women’s golf, is consistency.

“Across the globe and in South Africa we are seeing the massive growth of women’s golf, creating exciting new opportunities for players, and encouraging more participation than ever before. This has been made possible by steadfast strength and tenacity of female athletes, and the investment and commitment that organisations like Investec have shown to women’s golf over the past decade,” she says.

Commenting on the steadily increasing interest and support of women’s golf in South Africa, Peta Dixon, head of sponsorships at Investec, explains the importance of the development of homegrown female talent in the game.

“Golf is a strong passion point for so many South Africans, and a significant driver of socio-economic benefits in the country. We have long seen the value of this industry and continue to actively push the agenda of gender equality, belonging, inclusion and diversity through golf. We obviously have some way to go, but we’re proud of the journey we’ve made to date.

“We proudly support local talent on a global stage and believe our investment and continued sponsorship of talented up-and-coming professionals will go a long way towards affording more female golfers the opportunity to not only play and perform, but to also earn well too,” Dixon says.

Setting the ambitious goal for herself to achieve top-20 status on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit and a 70-stroke average, Du Toit offers her words of wisdom to other aspiring new female sports stars: “Be open to advice and be willing to learn, but never lose sight of who you are and what your strengths are. Your belief in your abilities is one of your greatest assets.”

HEINRICH HELMBOLD/SUNSHINE TOUR/INVESTEC

The R&A has announced changes to The Open Championship’s exemption categories, after issuing the qualifying criteria for this year’s event, which takes place at Royal Troon Golf Club from 18-21 July.

A new exemption will offer players competing on the Sunshine Tour, the Asian Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia the opportunity to qualify through the International Federation Ranking list.

The leading five golfers as at the closing date of entries will be awarded places at The Open. This would include the winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy who has met the qualification criteria of tournaments played on the Sunshine Tour and who is also not exempt for The Open. The Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour alliance provides another pathway to The Open through the top 30 on the final Race to Dubai Ranking for 2023.

An exemption for the Africa Amateur Champion has also been added, which means South Africa’s Altin van der Merwe will take it up this year after winning the inaugural championship at Leopard Creek in February.

The changes are the biggest since the governing body announced the introduction of The Open Qualifying Series before the championship in 2023.

A minimum of 16 places will also be available at Final Qualifying, set to take place at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods is set for a return to Scotland after he missed the cut at St Andrews in 2022. He will also have five more years of eligibility at the tournament compared to future winners, as the R&A has changed the Champions Exemption category. In the most significant change listed, from 2024, players who win The Open will be exempt until the age of 55. All current past champions are able to play until the age of 60.

THE R&A/GETTY IMAGES/TYRONE WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR

ERIK S LESSER/EPA/BACKPAGEPIX/PGA TOUR

Through the support of The R&A, GolfRSA aims to introduce young beginners to the game through the introduction of GolfSixes.

Towards the end of 2023, GolfSixes expanded into GolfSixes leagues within the South African Golf Development Board (SAGDB). The SAGDB GolfSixes leagues have taken off rapidly, with approximately 15 leagues on the go. Each SAGDB GolfSixes League consists of two to four teams which each have between four and six players per team representing the side in each fixture. Each team plays between three and five fixtures in a season.

Since most of the players in each league are beginners with little on-course experience, the Texas Scramble format has positively impacted the speed of play and has allowed the kids to play with a partner.

On 18 February, the top two SAGDB GolfSixes League teams from the Malelane chapter took to the par-3 course at the National Junior Development Centre (NJDC) at Leopard Creek Country Club. Each team consisted of six kids who played the Texas Scramble Format in pairs. The day concluded with each player receiving a medal.

Thanks to the efforts of the SAGDB and Edwin Compton, manager of SAGDB Mpumalanga, the day was filled with excitement and laughter for the kids involved. It was a testimony to the league’s mission of making golf accessible to all, regardless of background.

The GolfSixes League Activation showcased the joy of playing golf and the friendships formed on the course, highlighting the positive impact of sport on young lives. To date, more than 200 SAGDB kids have participated in a GolfSixes League fixture, with most of them just starting to play golf.

In 2024, GolfRSA aims to grow the game of golf even further by expanding into more SAGDB GolfSixes leagues throughout the country, thereby creating more opportunities for kids growing up in disadvantaged backgrounds to learn the game of golf and play on a course from a young age.

Birdies for Rhinos, the vision of Sunshine Tour professional Justin Walters in aid of rhino conservation, celebrated its latest champion before the Jonsson Workwear Open at Glendower Golf Club.

Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard Moller added his name to the spectacular rhino trophy after making 417 birdies in 2023. The money raised by the professionals is donated to Connected Conservation in aid of rhino conservation.

“It feels really good to make a difference,” said Moller. “I’m from Denmark so I’m far away from where this is all happening, but animals have always been close to my heart and this was an initiative where I could not just talk about making a difference but also actually do something. I feel very proud to be part of it.”

Walters was delighted to hand over the trophy to Moller.

“Niklas is a wonderful player and the rhinos are very happy he’s on board with us. He also won the prize to Sabi Sands Game Reserve,” Walters said of an initiative he remains extremely proud of.

“It’s about raising money and awareness for the plight of rhinos. It’s a small part the professionals on the Tours play. They donate money for every birdie they make in the year and we pool the money and hand it over to Connected Conservation, who have made wonderful strides in protecting wildlife around the world. It started as something small and is now gathering momentum.”

Bruce “Doc” Watson, the executive chairman of the Connected Conservation Foundation, also praised the work of the professionals in supporting their cause. “It’s making a big impact. We now cover 29 reserves primarily in Africa and the East, and this makes a dramatic difference in the work we do.”

TYRONE WINFIELD/SUNSHINE TOUR

Twelve months after her resounding 11 & 10 victory at the SA Women’s Amateur Championship, Kyra van Kan achieved the double with a wire-to-wire six-shot triumph at the SA Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Modderfontein Golf Club.

The win was just as emphatic as her matchplay triumph in 2023, as she closed with a two-under-par 70 to hold off South Africa’s top-ranked Kesha Louw.

“It’s honestly awesome,” said 19-year-old Van Kan, who will be taking up a golf scholarship at the University of Tennesse in April. “I’ve dreamed of this since I was a little girl, since I started playing golf. I set myself this goal at the start of the week and it’s an incredible feeling to stand here with the trophy, knowing I got it done.”

Van Kan followed an opening 71 with a five-under 67 to start the final round with a slender one-shot lead.

“I’m pretty pleased with the way I played and held myself together, even though it’s such a big event with all the nerves I was feeling,” said the champion.

Behind Van Kan, Louw’s opening 76 – compared to Van Kan’s 71 – set her back in her quest for the title, but her fine finish secured her the runner-up spot.

In third, 10 strokes behind the champion and four strokes behind Louw, was Cara Ford, with reigning English Girls and Nomads SA Girls champion Gia Raad a further shot back in fourth. Isabella Ferreira and Lisa Coetzer shared fifth.

In the Silver Division battle, it was 16-year-old Maru Chokwe who came up trumps at her debut at the GolfRSA flagship event.

The Royal Johannesburg junior, who claimed a seven-shot victory with rounds 83, 81 and 81, credited her coach Gavan Levenson with the win.

“We worked on my game, but he also prepared me well to keep calm and stay in the moment, knowing it was the first time I’d be playing at such a prestigious tournament. That really helped me, especially on the tough holes where water comes into play,” said Chokwe.

The top 32 on the final leaderboard advance to the Championship Division, while the next 32 players advance to the Flight Division.

ERNEST BLIGNAULT/GOLFRSA

The Legends Tour has unveiled plans for a record-breaking 2024 season, headlined by its busiest schedule to date – including nine new events – and an eye-watering €18-million prize pool.

Running from April to December, this year’s globetrotting schedule will feature 20 events – featuring new tournaments set to debut in Barbados, Kenya, Mexico, Spain, the UK and Zambia, with even more additions still to be announced.

Many of the Legends Tour’s brightest stars will be eyeing up Major victory in 2024 at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores Golf Club, the US Senior Open at Newport Country Club and The Senior Open presented by Rolex at Carnoustie Golf Links.

The season will culminate with the MCB Tour Championship Mauritius at Constance Belle Mare Plage, where qualifying players will contest for the John Jacobs Trophy.

As well as the tournament silverware, some of golf’s biggest names will also be competing for the largest prize pool in Legends Tour history. The €18-million (more than €8.6million of which will be assigned outside the Majors of senior men’s golf) represents a 100% increase since the Tour returned to a full schedule in 2022 after the covid pandemic, with $2-million to play for at the final two events on the Road to Mauritius and a bonus pool of $100 000 for the top five players in the final standings.

The announcement suggests the global growth of the Legends Tour – which hit new heights in 2023 – is set to continue. Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour, said: “We have been working hard behind the scenes, and 2024 promises to be another incredible year for the Legends Tour. We cannot wait to see it all unfold.”

LEGENDS TOUR