Samuel Simpson has worked incredibly hard at what he terms “preparing myself to succeed”, and the young South African will head into Friday’s final round of the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge with exactly that opportunity.

Simpson followed up his first round of 65 with another quality round of 66 to lead this Sunshine Tour field on 13 under par overall at Benoni Country Club.

He is two strokes clear of Malcolm Mitchell, who signed for a second round of 66. Martin Vorster, Jonathan Broomhead and Jason Roets are all joint third on nine under par.

It wasn’t an ideal start to Simpson’s second round as he bogeyed the second hole. But thereafter he made five birdies in his next seven holes, and added a further two birdies on the back nine.

“We started off early and I had a shaky start, but that happens. Then I hit a great shot on the third which settled my nerves,” he said.

“I was coming into today after a good first round, and that was in my mind. I just knew that I have a really good strategy around this golf course that I planned out before the week. So I knew that whatever happens I should just stick to that strategy and not play off emotion, and let the rest do the talking.”

Simpson was a decorated amateur before he turned professional in 2022 and admits it’s taken him some time to adjust to the professional arena. But he certainly seems to be finding his feet now.

Last season he finished just outside the top 50 on the Courier Guy Order of Merit on the Sunshine Tour in 64th place, and with a few top 10s under his belt.

Then he started this season with a finish of tied seventh in the FBC Zim Open before taking the lead at Benoni Country Club on Thursday.

“I didn’t go back home to Cape Town in the break between seasons. I stayed in Joburg and got myself mentally ready for the new season. That’s the biggest thing for me – mental confidence equals good golf. This is my third year on the Sunshine Tour. I’ve learnt a lot. Last season I learnt how to make cuts, and how to put myself in a position to play well on the weekend. Coming into the first events of this season, I’ve prepared myself to succeed.”

A final round of opportunity awaits for Simpson in a tournament played as a tribute to Gary Player, who conquered the world with his tenacity on the golf course. And Simpson is well aware of the challenge he’ll face on Friday.

“The final round is out of my hands. I can’t control what anybody else does. All I can control is myself. My strategy won’t change. I’m going to go out and do my best.”

SCORES

131 – Samuel Simpson 65 66
133 – Malcolm Mitchell 67 66
135 – Martin Vorster 68 67, Jonathan Broomhead 65 70, Jason Roets 65 70
136 – Altin van der Merwe 69 67
137 – Ricky Hendler 67 70, Luca Filippi 73 64, Fredrik From 68 69, Conner Mackenzie 72 65, Austin Bautista 70 67
138 – Heinrich Bruiners 74 64, George Coetzee 70 68, Jake Redman 71 67, Matthew Spacey 69 69
139 – James Mack 69 70, Lyle Rowe 71 68, Graham van der Merwe 67 72, Wynand Dingle 68 71, Jaco Ahlers 71 68, Jacquin Hess 68 71
140 – Xander Basson 70 70, Joe Long 72 68, Michael Hollick 72 68, Doug McGuigan 74 66, Luis Carrera 75 65, Luke Jerling 69 71, Keelan van Wyk 71 69
141 – Liam Grehan 69 72, Oliver Bekker 70 71, Martin Rohwer 71 70
142 – Werner Deyzel 69 73, Jack Hawksby 68 74, Daniel van Tonder 71 71, Pieter Moolman 70 72, Christiaan Burke 72 70, Warwick Purchase 69 73, Thomas Spreadborough 68 74, Jaco Prinsloo 72 70, Yurav Premlall 75 67, Jordan Duminy 74 68, Quintin Wilsnach 69 73, Ethan Smith 73 69, Christian Kriek 70 72
143 – Neil Schietekat 73 70, Jean Hugo 73 70, Kyle McClatchie 73 70, CJ du Plessis 72 71, Makhetha Mazibuko 70 73, Jacques Blaauw 73 70
Missed the cut:-
144 – Stuart Krog 68 76, Dylan Mostert 72 72, Hennie Otto 74 70, Karabo Mokoena 72 72, Jean-Paul Strydom 77 67, Jacques P de Villiers 72 72, Kyle De Beer 75 69, Dayne Moore 74 70
145 – Luke Brown 71 74, Stephen Ferreira 73 72, Keenan Davidse 74 71, Stefan Wears-Taylor 75 70, Keelan Africa 74 71, Rhys West 74 71, Ulrich van den Berg 71 74, Slade Pickering 73 72, Rowan Lester 73 72, Tyran Snyders 72 73
146 – Herman Loubser 72 74, Otto Van Buynder 73 73, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 75 71, Hennie O’Kennedy 72 74, Trevor Mahoney 73 73, Simon du Plooy 72 74
147 – Ruan de Smidt 77 70, Ruan Conradie 72 75, Tyrone Ryan 70 77, Nikhil Rama 76 71, Keegan Mclachlan 77 70, Franklin Manchest 75 72, Tristen Strydom 75 72, Keagan Thomas 72 75, Anthony Michael 74 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 74 73
148 – Jordan Burnand 76 72, Hunter Epson 70 78, Joe Knox 73 75, Pierre Pellegrin 76 72, Jastice Mashego 74 74, Benjamin Van Wyk 72 76, Sean Cronje 73 75
149 – Tumelo Molloyi 75 74, MJ Viljoen 73 76, Rupert Kaminski 76 73, Brandon Meads 78 71, Gerhard Pepler 76 73
150 – Nick Cunningham 74 76, JJ Senekal 77 73, Kyle Barker 73 77, Sentanio Minnie 76 74, Thanda Mavundla 74 76, Merrick Bremner 74 76, Ruan Korb 76 74, Danie Van Niekerk 74 76
151 – Jason Broomhead 73 78, Thabiso Ngcobo 72 79, Allister de Kock 76 75, Trevor Fisher Jnr 75 76
152 – Marcus Sandile Taylor 73 79, Pierre Viallaneix 78 74
153 – Lyle Pedro 74 79, Stals Swart 74 79
154 – Ruan Groenewald 78 76
155 – Estiaan Conradie 75 80, Keanu Pestana 80 75
157 – Umar Davids 76 81
159 – Paul Boshoff 77 82, Slenda Sithebe 84 75
WDN – Jaco Van Zyl 74 WDN, Tristin Galant 79 RTD

Issued by Michael Vlismas