The Mount Edgecombe Country Club golfer and Fichardt, the 48-year-old with 18 Sunshine Tour titles and five on the DP World Tour, engaged in a tense final round, last two-ball duel on Sunday, with Hollick starting the fourth round with a one-stroke lead.

But with Hollick showing incredible composure and control, he never allowed the vastly-experienced Fichardt to get ahead. Hollick, who turns 37 on Wednesday, had opened up a three-shot lead by the fourth hole, but, unsurprisingly given his pedigree, Fichardt staged a fierce late charge that saw him close the gap to just one stroke on the 16th green.

Fichardt, who birdied the par-five 16th, would have drawn level but for Hollick sinking a clutch 30-foot par-putt. The Durban resident then birdied the 17th to go two ahead and almost certainly quell Fichardt’s challenge.

“Thanks to Darren for a helluva battle, well-played and we certainly had a good go at each other out there,” Hollick said at the prizegiving.

Fichardt closed with a 68, recovering from a bogey at the par-three second hole with three successive birdies from the fifth to the seventh hole. He dropped another shot at the par-three 11th, as did Hollick, and they both rebounded with birdies on the par-five 12th. Fichardt then began to push really hard with birdies on the par-three 15th and on 16, but Hollick held his nerve and repelled his admirable adversary.

Hollick showed his maturity on the front nine as he started patiently with three pars before embarking on his own hat-trick of birdies from the fourth to the sixth hole. He gained another shot on Fichardt with his birdie on the par-four 10th and, apart from the par-save on 16, he also showed his BMT with a superb approach to four feet to set up his crucial birdie on the penultimate hole.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent also shot a 68 on Sunday to climb into third place on the final leaderboard on 14-under-par, six behind Hollick. His younger brother, Kieran, shot a 71 to finish in a tie for fourth with Sweden’s Fredrik From (67) on 12-under.

A third Zimbabwean finished in the top-10 in Benjamin Follett-Smith (71), who shared sixth place with MJ Viljoen (71) on 11-under-par.

SCORES:
268 – Michael Hollick 66 67 68 67
270 – Darren Fichardt 67 66 69 68
274 – Scott Vincent 67 73 66 68
276 – Fredrik From 71 69 69 67, Kieran Vincent 71 67 67 71
277 – MJ Viljoen 68 72 66 71, Benjamin Follett-Smith 70 71 65 71
278 – Louis Albertse 70 70 70 68, Martin Vorster 70 62 76 70, Rupert Kaminski 72 67 69 70
279 – JC Ritchie 69 69 69 72, Anthony Michael 67 67 71 74
281 – Yurav Premlall 70 74 70 67
282 – Daniel van Tonder 71 72 70 69, Doug McGuigan 68 73 69 72, Gerhard Pepler 71 69 69 73
283 – Brandon Gildenhuys 73 69 71 70, Jaco Van Zyl 70 73 69 71, Hennie O’Kennedy 73 69 69 72, Combrinck Smit 68 70 72 73
284 – Jason Roets 67 76 71 70, Gregory Mckay 75 64 72 73
285 – Danie Van Niekerk 71 73 70 71, Dylan Mostert 71 74 69 71, Jovan Rebula 70 72 71 72, Keagan Thomas 71 73 68 73, Hennie Otto 72 70 69 74, Jaco Ahlers 65 71 73 76
286 – Rhys West 73 70 75 68, Madalitso Muthiya 69 72 74 71, Conner Mackenzie 70 72 73 71, Ian Snyman 74 67 73 72, Robson Chinhoi 72 68 73 73, Keegan Mclachlan 72 72 68 74
287 – Luke Brown 72 72 73 70, Kyle Barker 70 75 72 70, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 70 73 72
288 – Mathew Bramford 71 74 74 69, Ethan Smith 71 70 75 72, Herman Loubser 69 74 73 72, Lyle Rowe 72 71 72 73, Kyle McClatchie 73 71 71 73, Jaco Prinsloo 74 71 69 74
289 – Kyle De Beer 70 72 75 72
290 – Dylan O’Leary 71 72 71 76, Stuart Krog 73 72 69 76, Irvin Mazibuko 71 69 73 77, Nikhil Rama 73 69 70 78
291 – Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 73 69 76 73, Ruan Korb 74 71 71 75, Craig Ross 72 68 72 79
292 – Jacques Blaauw 67 75 76 74, Christiaan Basson 71 73 72 76, Pride Sembo 74 70 71 77
293 – Biggie Chibvuri 71 73 74 75, Nick Cunningham 71 73 72 77
294 – Neil Schietekat 74 70 76 74
295 – Jacques P de Villiers 73 72 79 71, Ricky Hendler 71 74 73 77
297 – Brandon Meads 72 72 77 76, Warwick Purchase 69 74 77 77
Missed the cut:-
146 – Luca Filippi 75 71, Dayne Moore 72 74, Steven Le Roux 74 72, Ronald Rugumayo 75 71, James Mack 69 77, Keegan Shutt 73 73, Ignatius Mketekete 73 73, Promise Sombreiro 72 74
147 – Jake Redman 74 73, Luke Jerling 72 75, Trainos Muradzikwa 77 70, Christian Kriek 78 69, Therion Nel 72 75, Martin Rohwer 75 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 77
148 – Basil Wright Jr 72 76, Clive Nguru 75 73, Thanda Mavundla 70 78, Jean Hugo 74 74, Wynand Dingle 74 74, Otto Van Buynder 73 75, Trevor Mahoney 71 77, Tristin Galant 77 71, Keelan van Wyk 72 76, Franklin Manchest 74 74, Shaydon Johnson 74 74
149 – Haydn Porteous 78 71, Tatenda Makunde 74 75, Samuel Simpson 71 78
150 – Werner Deyzel 77 73, Vaughn van Deventer 74 76, Ethan Fichardt 78 72, Adam Breen 70 80, Stephen Ferreira 73 77, Slenda Sithebe 74 76, Ruan de Smidt 79 71, Albert Venter 76 74, Brian Gondo 72 78, Jacquin Hess 76 74
151 – Hayden Griffiths 76 75, Pieter Zwart 75 76, Jacob Oakley 73 78, David Amm 77 74, Ulrich van den Berg 74 77, Callum Mowat 77 74, Alex Haindl 71 80, Paul Adam Chidale 76 75
152 – Regan Steyn 77 75, Rourke van der Spuy 75 77, Mutahi Kibugu 76 76, Njoroge Kibugu 71 81, Nyasha Muyambo 73 79, Jared Harvey 77 75, Devon Valentine 80 72, Christopher Long 77 75
153 – Jastice Mashego 75 78, Nevy Milazi 76 77, Jabulane Mabilane 80 73, Simon Murungweni 78 75, Matthew Spacey 76 77, Braydon Amm 78 75, Davison Elijah 75 78
154 – Stals Swart 82 72, Austin Bautista 81 73, Stefan Wears-Taylor 74 80
155 – Travis Ladner 79 76, Christiaan Burke 78 77, Merrick Bremner 75 80
156 – Akil Yousuf 79 77, Anyway Katembenuka 76 80, Shaahid Mahmed 77 79, Tanaka Chatora 78 78, Sean Bradley 81 75
157 – Tongoona Charamba 76 81, Liberty Gumisa 74 83
158 – Tafara Mpofu 77 81, LB Boshoff 79 79, Tonderai Masunga 72 86
160 – William Geach 82 78
164 – Innocent Mukumba 78 86
165 – Kelly Tembo 86 79, Jordan Duminy 82 83
170 – Lloyd Dube 89 81

Issued by Michael Vlismas Media

Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

The post Hollick bags second Sunshine Tour title with FBC Zim Open win appeared first on SportsClub.

Hollick followed up his first two rounds of 66 and 67 with an impressive 68 in the third round, leaving him on 15-under-par and enjoying a one-stroke lead going into Sunday’s final round.

The one-time Sunshine Tour winner made a slow start on Saturday, with a bogey on the par-three second meaning he was one-over after four holes. But he then birdied the fifth and sixth holes, and began the back nine birdie-birdie. Hollick followed up a bogey on the par-three 15th with an eagle on the 16th, and then birdied 17 before dropping a shot on the last hole to halve his lead.

“This golf course is very demanding, there’s not a lot of room for error. You have to be accurate, it’s like a game of chess out there,” Hollick said. “The greens are super-quick, probably the fastest we play on all year and they are very firm now after three days.

“They’re also all elevated with run-offs and narrow entrances to the greens, so if you don’t hit your target then you’re unlikely to get up-and-down. But I’m definitely feeling good, the last few months have been good for me and success breeds confidence. My swing and my short game are good and I’m just sticking to my guns,” Hollick said.

While other golfers have found the back nine at Royal Harare Golf Club especially testing, Hollick’s cool and calm approach saw him prosper there on Saturday as he came home in 33 shots, one or two strokes less than anyone else in the top four.

“Of late, I’ve been making a bogey at the start of my round, but I’ve always been able to recover. I’m quite relaxed, so I just carry on, knowing a birdie is probably around the corner.

“On the back nine today, I hit all the fairways, except for 18, and hit some nice irons, which makes it much easier to get those birdies,” Hollick said.

The evergreen Darren Fichardt is the chief challenger to Hollick, his 69 on Saturday lifting him to 14-under-par. The 48-year-old had four birdies and three bogeys, but an eagle at the par-five sixth made all the difference.

Kieran Vincent is the chief home hope on 11-under-par after a 67, leaving him tied for third with Anthony Michael (71). But two more Zimbabweans, Benjamin Follett-Smith and Kieran’s older brother Scott are one shot further back, alongside MJ Viljoen (66).

Follett-Smith fired the low round of the day, a seven-under-par 65, and was five-under at the turn.

SCORES:

201 – Michael Hollick 66 67 68
202 – Darren Fichardt 67 66 69
205 – Kieran Vincent 71 67 67, Anthony Michael 67 67 71
206 – Benjamin Follett-Smith 70 71 65, MJ Viljoen 68 72 66, Scott Vincent 67 73 66
207 – JC Ritchie 69 69 69
208 – Rupert Kaminski 72 67 69, Martin Vorster 70 62 76
209 – Gerhard Pepler 71 69 69, Fredrik From 71 69 69, Jaco Ahlers 65 71 73
210 – Doug McGuigan 68 73 69, Louis Albertse 70 70 70, Combrinck Smit 68 70 72
211 – Hennie O’Kennedy 73 69 69, Hennie Otto 72 70 69, Gregory Mckay 75 64 72
212 – Keegan Mclachlan 72 72 68, Keagan Thomas 71 73 68, Jaco Van Zyl 70 73 69, Nikhil Rama 73 69 70, Craig Ross 72 68 72
213 – Daniel van Tonder 71 72 70, Jovan Rebula 70 72 71, Brandon Gildenhuys 73 69 71, Irvin Mazibuko 71 69 73, Robson Chinhoi 72 68 73
214 – Dylan Mostert 71 74 69, Stuart Krog 73 72 69, Jaco Prinsloo 74 71 69, Danie Van Niekerk 71 73 70, Yurav Premlall 70 74 70, Dylan O’Leary 71 72 71, Jason Roets 67 76 71, Ian Snyman 74 67 73
215 – Pride Sembo 74 70 71, Kyle McClatchie 73 71 71, Lyle Rowe 72 71 72, Conner Mackenzie 70 72 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 70 73, Madalitso Muthiya 69 72 74
216 – Ruan Korb 74 71 71, Nick Cunningham 71 73 72, Christiaan Basson 71 73 72, Herman Loubser 69 74 73, Ethan Smith 71 70 75
217 – Kyle Barker 70 75 72, Luke Brown 72 72 73, Kyle De Beer 70 72 75
218 – Ricky Hendler 71 74 73, Biggie Chibvuri 71 73 74, Rhys West 73 70 75, Jacques Blaauw 67 75 76, Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 73 69 76
219 – Mathew Bramford 71 74 74
220 – Neil Schietekat 74 70 76, Warwick Purchase 69 74 77
221 – Brandon Meads 72 72 77
224 – Jacques P de Villiers 73 72 79
Missed the cut:-
146 – Luca Filippi 75 71, Dayne Moore 72 74, Steven Le Roux 74 72, Ronald Rugumayo 75 71, James Mack 69 77, Keegan Shutt 73 73, Ignatius Mketekete 73 73, Promise Sombreiro 72 74
147 – Jake Redman 74 73, Luke Jerling 72 75, Trainos Muradzikwa 77 70, Christian Kriek 78 69, Therion Nel 72 75, Martin Rohwer 75 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 77
148 – Basil Wright Jr 72 76, Clive Nguru 75 73, Thanda Mavundla 70 78, Jean Hugo 74 74, Wynand Dingle 74 74, Otto Van Buynder 73 75, Trevor Mahoney 71 77, Tristin Galant 77 71, Keelan van Wyk 72 76, Franklin Manchest 74 74, Shaydon Johnson 74 74
149 – Haydn Porteous 78 71, Tatenda Makunde 74 75, Samuel Simpson 71 78
150 – Werner Deyzel 77 73, Vaughn van Deventer 74 76, Ethan Fichardt 78 72, Adam Breen 70 80, Stephen Ferreira 73 77, Slenda Sithebe 74 76, Ruan de Smidt 79 71, Albert Venter 76 74, Brian Gondo 72 78, Jacquin Hess 76 74
151 – Hayden Griffiths 76 75, Pieter Zwart 75 76, Jacob Oakley 73 78, David Amm 77 74, Ulrich van den Berg 74 77, Callum Mowat 77 74, Alex Haindl 71 80, Paul Adam Chidale 76 75
152 – Regan Steyn 77 75, Rourke van der Spuy 75 77, Mutahi Kibugu 76 76, Njoroge Kibugu 71 81, Nyasha Muyambo 73 79, Jared Harvey 77 75, Devon Valentine 80 72, Christopher Long 77 75
153 – Jastice Mashego 75 78, Nevy Milazi 76 77, Jabulane Mabilane 80 73, Simon Murungweni 78 75, Matthew Spacey 76 77, Braydon Amm 78 75, Davison Elijah 75 78
154 – Stals Swart 82 72, Austin Bautista 81 73, Stefan Wears-Taylor 74 80
155 – Travis Ladner 79 76, Christiaan Burke 78 77, Merrick Bremner 75 80
156 – Akil Yousuf 79 77, Anyway Katembenuka 76 80, Shaahid Mahmed 77 79, Tanaka Chatora 78 78, Sean Bradley 81 75
157 – Tongoona Charamba 76 81, Liberty Gumisa 74 83
158 – Tafara Mpofu 77 81, LB Boshoff 79 79, Tonderai Masunga 72 86
160 – William Geach 82 78
164 – Innocent Mukumba 78 86
165 – Kelly Tembo 86 79, Jordan Duminy 82 83
170 – Lloyd Dube 89 81

Issued by Michael Vlismas Media

Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

The post Hollick makes his move in ‘game of chess’ at Royal Harare appeared first on SportsClub.

The Mossel Bay representative began his round on the 10th hole and made another eagle on the par-five sixth hole before parring his way in for a phenomenal 62, his best ever round in his 52nd Sunshine Tour event. That lifted Vorster to 12-under-par at the halfway mark of the R2.5 million event, one stroke ahead of Darren Fichardt (66) and Michael Hollick (67).

Vorster responded in style to a grungy first round that included four bogeys to offset six birdies. On Friday he made birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th holes, before his only dropped shot, a four at the par-three 15th. But the 22-year-old then made sweet music with four straight birdies at 17, 18, one and two, before his eagle at the 475m par-three third.

Veteran Fichardt sounded a warning in the morning about his challenge, firing a six-under 66 that included eight birdies, being joined on 11-under-par by Hollick, who posted a 67 that included a good little run of his own when he birdied four successive holes from the fifth to the eighth.

Anthony Michael also shot a 67 to lie fourth on 10-under-par, while first-round leader Jaco Ahlers slipped back a bit with a 71 that left him on eight-under.

Kieran Vincent was the leading Zimbabwean as his 67 lifted him to six-under-par, alongside South Africans JC Ritchie (69) and Combrinck Smit (70) in the tie for sixth.

SCORES:

132 – Martin Vorster 70 62
133 – Darren Fichardt 67 66, Michael Hollick 66 67
134 – Anthony Michael 67 67
136 – Jaco Ahlers 65 71
138 – JC Ritchie 69 69, Combrinck Smit 68 70, Kieran Vincent 71 67
139 – Rupert Kaminski 72 67, Gregory Mckay 75 64
140 – Fredrik From 71 69, Craig Ross 72 68, Scott Vincent 67 73, Louis Albertse 70 70, Robson Chinhoi 72 68, MJ Viljoen 68 72, Gerhard Pepler 71 69, Irvin Mazibuko 71 69
141 – Benjamin Follett-Smith 70 71, Ian Snyman 74 67, Doug McGuigan 68 73, Madalitso Muthiya 69 72, Ethan Smith 71 70
142 – Mohammad Rauf Mandhu 73 69, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 70, Brandon Gildenhuys 73 69, Nikhil Rama 73 69, Jovan Rebula 70 72, Conner Mackenzie 70 72, Hennie Otto 72 70, Hennie O’Kennedy 73 69, Jacques Blaauw 67 75, Kyle De Beer 70 72
143 – Lyle Rowe 72 71, Jason Roets 67 76, Rhys West 73 70, Dylan O’Leary 71 72, Herman Loubser 69 74, Daniel van Tonder 71 72, Jaco Van Zyl 70 73, Warwick Purchase 69 74
144 – Yurav Premlall 70 74, Luke Brown 72 72, Biggie Chibvuri 71 73, Christiaan Basson 71 73, Neil Schietekat 74 70, Danie Van Niekerk 71 73, Keagan Thomas 71 73, Keegan Mclachlan 72 72, Kyle McClatchie 73 71, Pride Sembo 74 70, Nick Cunningham 71 73, Brandon Meads 72 72
145 – Jaco Prinsloo 74 71, Stuart Krog 73 72, Ruan Korb 74 71, Ricky Hendler 71 74, Kyle Barker 70 75, Dylan Mostert 71 74, Jacques P de Villiers 73 72, Mathew Bramford 71 74
Missed the cut:-
146 – Luca Filippi 75 71, Dayne Moore 72 74, Steven Le Roux 74 72, Ronald Rugumayo 75 71, James Mack 69 77, Keegan Shutt 73 73, Ignatius Mketekete 73 73, Promise Sombreiro 72 74
147 – Jake Redman 74 73, Luke Jerling 72 75, Trainos Muradzikwa 77 70, Christian Kriek 78 69, Therion Nel 72 75, Martin Rohwer 75 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 77
148 – Basil Wright Jr 72 76, Clive Nguru 75 73, Thanda Mavundla 70 78, Jean Hugo 74 74, Wynand Dingle 74 74, Otto Van Buynder 73 75, Trevor Mahoney 71 77, Tristin Galant 77 71, Keelan van Wyk 72 76, Franklin Manchest 74 74, Shaydon Johnson 74 74
149 – Haydn Porteous 78 71, Tatenda Makunde 74 75, Samuel Simpson 71 78
150 – Werner Deyzel 77 73, Vaughn van Deventer 74 76, Ethan Fichardt 78 72, Adam Breen 70 80, Stephen Ferreira 73 77, Slenda Sithebe 74 76, Ruan de Smidt 79 71, Albert Venter 76 74, Brian Gondo 72 78, Jacquin Hess 76 74
151 – Hayden Griffiths 76 75, Pieter Zwart 75 76, Jacob Oakley 73 78, David Amm 77 74, Ulrich van den Berg 74 77, Callum Mowat 77 74, Alex Haindl 71 80, Paul Adam Chidale 76 75
152 – Regan Steyn 77 75, Rourke van der Spuy 75 77, Mutahi Kibugu 76 76, Njoroge Kibugu 71 81, Nyasha Muyambo 73 79, Jared Harvey 77 75, Devon Valentine 80 72, Christopher Long 77 75
153 – Jastice Mashego 75 78, Nevy Milazi 76 77, Jabulane Mabilane 80 73, Simon Murungweni 78 75, Matthew Spacey 76 77, Braydon Amm 78 75, Davison Elijah 75 78
154 – Stals Swart 82 72, Austin Bautista 81 73, Stefan Wears-Taylor 74 80
155 – Travis Ladner 79 76, Christiaan Burke 78 77, Merrick Bremner 75 80
156 – Akil Yousuf 79 77, Anyway Katembenuka 76 80, Shaahid Mahmed 77 79, Tanaka Chatora 78 78, Sean Bradley 81 75
157 – Tongoona Charamba 76 81, Liberty Gumisa 74 83
158 – Tafara Mpofu 77 81, LB Boshoff 79 79, Tonderai Masunga 72 86
160 – William Geach 82 78
164 – Innocent Mukumba 78 86
165 – Kelly Tembo 86 79, Jordan Duminy 82 83
170 – Lloyd Dube 89 81

Issued by Michael Vlismas Media

Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

The post Memorable 62 earns Vorster lead at Royal Harare appeared first on SportsClub.

Ahlers began the year with three missed cuts in his first four events spread between the Sunshine and Asian tours, but a runners-up finish in March in the Stella Artois Championship, finishing just a stroke behind winner Heinrich Bruiners at Dainfern, marked a change in fortunes. Since then he finished tied-10th at the Saudi Open and was tied-13th in the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq last weekend at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s East Course.

On Thursday, Ahlers was in sublime form as he started his 2024/25 Sunshine Tour campaign in rampant fashion on the 10thhole and reeled off three straight birdies to get his brilliant round of 65 going. He picked up another shot on the par-four 17th and then eagled the par-five third hole. Although the world number 354 then bogeyed the fourth, he sealed a one-stroke lead with birdies on the seventh and eighth holes.

“It’s always nice to start that way, especially on the back nine here at Royal Harare, which is tougher, especially the greens, which are all raised,” Ahlers said.

“It’s difficult playing in this mid-year period because I play on the Asian Tour as well and that runs from January to December. This year has not been as good as I would have liked, but you just need to go on from there and today was a step in the right direction.

“Royal Harare suits me, it’s an old style course with big trees and dog-legs. The only way to play it is to be patient and not too aggressive,” Ahlers, who was tied-second in last year’s FBC Zim Open and fourth in 2022, said.

The highlight of Ahlers’ round was when he capitalised on a good drive on the 475m third hole and sent a searing six-iron to within six feet of the hole and sank the putt for eagle.

Michael Hollick is alone in second place on six-under-par after a 66 on Thursday. The Mount Edgecombe golfer reached the turn in one-under, but scorched through the back nine in just 31 strokes, with three successive birdies from the 11th hole, and further gains on the 16th and 18th holes.

There is a strong chasing pack of five golfers on five-under-par, comprising seasoned winners Jacques Blaauw and Darren Fichardt, Zimbabwe’s own Scott Vincent, the experienced Anthony Michael and former University of North Texas college golfer Jason Roets.

SCORES:

-7 – Jaco Ahlers
-6 – Michael Hollick
-5 – Anthony Michael, Scott Vincent, Jacques Blaauw, Darren Fichardt, Jason Roets
-4 – Combrinck Smit, MJ Viljoen, Doug McGuigan
-3 – James Mack, Herman Loubser, Warwick Purchase, JC Ritchie, Madalitso Muthiya
-2 – Louis Albertse, Conner Mackenzie, Kyle Barker, Jovan Rebula, Quintin Wilsnach, Martin Vorster, Jaco Van Zyl, Kyle De Beer, Yurav Premlall, Thanda Mavundla, Benjamin Follett-Smith, Adam Breen
-1 – Njoroge Kibugu, Dylan O’Leary, Ethan Smith, Gerhard Pepler, Daniel van Tonder, Kieran Vincent, Dylan Mostert, Alex Haindl, Mathew Bramford, Samuel Simpson, Nick Cunningham, Irvin Mazibuko, Biggie Chibvuri, Christiaan Basson, Danie Van Niekerk, Ricky Hendler, Keagan Thomas, Fredrik From, Trevor Mahoney

Issued by Michael Vlismas Media

Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

The post Patient Ahlers leads the charge in FBC Zim Open appeared first on SportsClub.