Vorster focused himself on the pure enjoyment of the game as he finished the day with a one-stroke lead over fellow South Africans Jaco Prinsloo and MJ Viljoen.

“I think it just comes back to playing golf again. I got stuck in the technicalities of swinging the golf club and being too focused on that. Today it was just about playing golf, hitting shots and just being like a kid out there,” he said.

It was a key mindset shift for Vorster, who felt towards the end of last year that he was playing good golf but not getting the rewards. And it led to the perfect start in this Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour co-sanctioned event, which gives him confidence for this key run of four co-sanctioned tournaments on home soil.

“It’s been a tough couple of months coming into this stretch, but I’m really proud with how I played and fought today. The game felt really solid. I felt like it’s starting to come back again. I’m so happy with the start. It’s been just about getting back to playing golf.”

His round was built on a solid first nine of six birdies and only one bogey. He added another two birdies on his second nine.

“I think we did a lot of good work in the preparation and mapped out the course really well to give myself the best chance for birdies,” said Vorster, who has his wife caddying for him for only the second time this week.

“I love nature so that helps out here, and having my wife on the bag is really special. It’s the second week she’s caddying for me. It’s just fun to have your life partner with you and to be in a bubble out there having great chats. She did a great job today. We just enjoyed it.”

Behind him, Prinsloo also felt the peace of a bushveld setting he grew up in, and drew on that in his round of 66.

“I grew up in Thabazimbi which is not far from here, and I’ve played here a lot and always enjoyed it. The course is always in good condition, especially this year. I love being here. It’s just the peace and tranquillity of the bushveld. It’s nice to see the animals and everything else. It’s calming,” he said

SCORES

65 – Martin Vorster
66 – Jaco Prinsloo
66 – MJ Viljoen
67 – Callum Farr
67 – Jaco Ahlers, Julien Sale, Luke Brown
68 – Tobias Eden
68 – Graham van der Merwe, Kieran Vincent, Christofer Rahm, Yurav Premlall, Ryan Van Velzen, Herman Loubser, Jean Hugo, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Ruan Korb, Justin Walters, Tyran Snyders, Jack Hawksby, Jordan Burnand
69 – Adam Wallin
69 – Haydn Porteous, Christofer Blomstrand, Julien Quesne, Nick Bachem, Kyle Barker, Ronan Kleu, Charles Huntzinger, Estiaan Conradie, Gerhard Pepler, Maxence Giboudot, Clement Sordet, Lucas Vacarisas, Rhys Enoch, Max Kennedy, Joel Moscatel, Kyle De Beer, Pablo Ereno, Stuart Krog
70 – Ryan van der Klis
70 – Martin Rohwer, Bjorn Akesson, Julien Brun, Deon Germishuys, Warwick Purchase, Jannik de Bruyn, Robert Foley, Makhetha Mazibuko, Alex Goff, Robin Williams, Lorenzo Scalise, Palmer Jackson, Dan Erickson, Luis Carrera, Wouter De Vries, Karabo Mokoena
71 – Alexander Knappe
71 – Jacques Blaauw, Haraldur Magnus, Robson Chinhoi, Calum Fyfe, Austin Bautista, Hennie O’Kennedy, Toto Thimba Jnr, Asier Aguirre, Marc Warren, Andres German Gallegos, Kieron van Wyk, Steven Brown, Matthis Besard, Robin Petersson, Ricky Hendler, Tristen Strydom, Joe Long
72 – Baard Skogen
72 – MJ Daffue, Nick Carlson, Matthias Schwab, Santiago Tarrio, Lars van Meijel, Victor Pastor, Albert Boneta, Nikhil Rama, James Mack, Jacques P de Villiers, Gary Hurley, Sam Jones, Hennie Otto, Pieter Moolman, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen, Callum Tarren, Altin van der Merwe, Hurly Long, Liam Nolan, Franklin Manchest, Thomas Spreadborough, Ayden Knight, Keelan van Wyk, Stefan Wears-Taylor
73 – Rupert Kaminski
73 – Wynand Dingle, Collin Adams, CJ du Plessis, Ronan Mullarney, Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Jovan Rebula, Dylan Mostert, JJ Senekal, Hamish Brown, Wilco Nienaber, Josh Hilleard, Jason Roets
74 – Rory Franssen
74 – Samuel Simpson, Vince van Veen, Benjamin Rusch, Will Enefer, Malcolm Mitchell, Stephen Ferreira, Louis Albertse, Jean-Paul Strydom, Sam Hutsby, Keenan Davidse, Heinrich Bruiners, Matthew Southgate, Adri Arnaus, Rhys West
75 – Victor Sidal Svendsen
75 – Luke Jerling, Lyle Rowe, Keagan Thomas, Per Langfors, Canon Claycomb, Conor Purcell, Yannik Paul, Lukas Nemecz, George Coetzee
76 – Kayle Wykes
76 – Javier Barcos Garbayo, Christiaan Burke, Callan Barrow, Julian Perico
77 – Daan Huizing
77 – Thabiso Ngcobo, Anders Ejlersen, Neil Schietekat
78 – John Gough
78 – Bryce Easton, Sebastian Friedrichsen, Anton Albers, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Alfie Plant
79 – Trevor Mahoney
79 – Kristian Hjort Bressum
80 – Pedro Figueiredo

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Nathan will officially retire from his executive position in June this year, with Thomas Abt, the Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, assuming all executive responsibilities. However, Nathan will remain
on the Sunshine Tour Board as a non-executive member.

“I would like to thank Johann Rupert for the faith he has shown in me and for entrusting me with a leadership role on the Sunshine Tour. He has been an immense guiding force for me and it has been an honour to work with him on the growth of our Tour. I would also like to thank all the players, the directors, the sponsors and the staff I’ve had the privilege of working with. I have been blessed to have had the most fantastic career with the most incredible people, starting in a small office as part of a team including Helen Bland and Brian Henning. It’s given me a beautiful life. In Thomas Abt, the Sunshine Tour has a true leader capable of taking our Tour to even greater heights,” Nathan said at the Sunshine Tour AGM in January.

Johann Rupert, Chairman of the Sunshine Tour, paid special tribute to a man who had a humble start in the game as an assistant professional and who rose to become one of the most influential figures in world golf and a cornerstone of the professional growth of the South African game.

“Selwyn is surely one of South Africa’s longest-serving sports administrators, having started with the Sunshine Tour as far back as 1969 when he was just a young assistant professional. He has helped guide this Tour through many challenges and transitions, and has been a constant source of wisdom, courage and continuity as the Sunshine Tour has grown into what it is today. The end of his executive tenure brings to a close one of the most remarkable and colourful careers in our game. I would like to wish him well, and thank him sincerely for his unwavering service to the Sunshine Tour,” Rupert said.

Gary Player also paid a special tribute to Nathan. “I’d like to personally thank Selwyn for the commitment he has shown towards the Sunshine Tour and for the selfless work he has done in growing our Tour. I would also like to wish Thomas Abt all the best as he continues to build on the work of Selwyn and so many others that has made the Sunshine Tour what it is today. Our Tour is in a very healthy place as it provides vital opportunities for our professionals to graduate onto the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR for them to keep flying the South African flag on global fairways.”

Nathan’s formal departure from the executive of the Sunshine Tour brings to a close the career of a man who has been involved in every single facet of the professional game in South Africa and abroad since the 1960s.

During his tenure he has worked closely with three PGA TOUR Commissioners including Deane Beaman, Tim Finchem and Jay Monahan, and four DP World Tour Chief Executives in Ken Schofield, George O’Grady, Keith Pelley and Guy Kinnings.

He represented the Sunshine Tour at the founding meeting of the International Federation of PGA Tours in 1996, which was launched as the formal body of the global professional tours in golf.

Nathan has been instrumental in the growth of the Sunshine Tour, having served as Commissioner on several occasions and guiding the Tour through its most challenging periods such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and also representing the Tour’s interests globally as a member of the International Federation of PGA Tours.

He was part of the Sunshine Tour leadership team that also spearheaded the establishment of the Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR and the global pathway this has created for South African golfers. He was also part of the core team, together with Gary Player, Sol Kerzner and Sam Feldman that launched the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.

He personally took it upon himself to revive Soweto Country Club as a beacon of hope for young golfers in Soweto, and which today hosts professional tournaments in the heart of this iconic township.

And he had the vision to create a viable programme of opportunity – the Papwa Sewgolum Class – within the Tour for historically disadvantaged professionals and help them to compete on an equal footing on Tour.

Nathan also helped launch the Sunshine Ladies Tour, which now boasts a schedule of eight tournaments, two of which are co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour (LET), and which provides valuable playing opportunities for South Africa’s leading women amateurs and professionals.

“What makes Selwyn’s contribution so enduring is that it has never been limited to administration alone. He has consistently used the Sunshine Tour as a platform for opportunity – building initiatives that keep creating access for our members, our development players, and women’s professional golf,” said Rupert.

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour who was mentored for the role by Nathan, said: “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Selwyn for his extraordinary commitment to the Sunshine Tour over more than 50 years. Very few individuals can claim such a legacy of sustained service, leadership, and belief in an institution. Selwyn’s contribution has not simply been measured in years, but in the stability, credibility, and growth he has helped foster. His presence on the Board has consistently brought wisdom, perspective, and an unwavering focus on what is best for the Tour and the people it serves.”

“Beyond his formal role as Executive Director, Selwyn has been a mentor to me personally, and to many others. He has always led with generosity – of time, knowledge, and encouragement – quietly shaping leaders rather than seeking recognition. His guidance has been grounded in experience, and a deep understanding of the game and its broader impact. I am profoundly grateful for the trust he has shown and the lessons he has shared, many of which will continue to guide me long after this chapter.”

The post Sunshine Tour pays tribute to outgoing Selwyn Nathan appeared first on SportsClub.

Simpson’s bogey-free final round at the Nkana Golf Club earned him a one-stroke victory over Loubser on 11 under par.

Loubser, who had been at the top of the leaderboard since the first round, struggled with a closing 76 to take second place on 10 under par.

Luke Jerling, JJ Senekal and Lyle Rowe shared third place on nine under par.

Simpson teed off the final round five shots behind Loubser. But it was his ability to limit his mistakes on a final day when Loubser struggled to do the same in a round of three bogeys and one double bogey that made the difference.
However, Loubser’s commanding lead meant he and Simpson were still tied for the lead on 11 under par through 17 holes.

But Loubser’s bogey on the 18th hole ensured the victory went to Simpson.

Simpson is the second maiden winner on the Sunshine Tour this season after the opening five tournaments following Luis Carrera from Mexico.

SCORES

277 – Samuel Simpson 72 65 71 69
278 – Herman Loubser 67 67 68 76
279 – Luke Jerling 70 68 73 68, JJ Senekal 70 71 70 68, Lyle Rowe 71 70 68 70
280 – Jacques P de Villiers 69 73 72 66, Xander Basson 74 67 68 71
281 – Hennie Otto 67 71 69 74
282 – Liam Grehan 75 66 75 66, Gerhard Pepler 75 72 68 67, Wynand Dingle 72 71 70 69, Warwick Purchase 69 70 73 70, Martin Vorster 73 70 69 70, Jacques Blaauw 73 66 71 72, Ethan Smith 71 71 66 74
283 – MJ Viljoen 68 70 75 70, Jaco Prinsloo 76 69 68 70
284 – Louis Albertse 71 74 72 67, Luke Brown 74 66 73 71
285 – Matthew Spacey 71 67 77 70, Dayne Moore 72 71 72 70, Kyle De Beer 72 71 71 71, Simon du Plooy 71 72 70 72, Fredrik From 68 72 72 73, Ryan van der Klis 73 69 69 74, Ruan Korb 74 71 66 74, Robson Chinhoi 76 70 65 74
286 – Stefan Wears-Taylor 74 67 75 70, Kyle McClatchie 72 74 69 71, Heinrich Bruiners 72 69 73 72, Neil Schietekat 72 69 72 73
287 – Marcel Steyn Scholtz 73 74 71 69, Martin Rohwer 74 70 73 70, Daniel Cronje 74 69 73 71, Rourke van der Spuy 72 73 71 71, Jack Hawksby 73 72 71 71
288 – Benjamin Van Wyk 72 70 72 74, Christiaan Burke 72 74 68 74, Keegan Mclachlan 72 69 71 76
289 – Stuart Krog 71 75 73 70, Jordan Duminy 72 75 72 70, Graham van der Merwe 73 67 76 73, Ruan Conradie 73 72 69 75, Carter Rowe 73 72 69 75
290 – Tomas Gana 69 76 74 71, Stals Swart 72 70 75 73, Aaron Simfukwe Jnr 70 71 75 74, CJ du Plessis 76 71 69 74, Stephen Ferreira 73 74 69 74, Altin van der Merwe 76 68 67 79
291 – Keagan Thomas 74 73 72 72
292 – Daniel van Tonder 75 70 71 76
293 – Jake Redman 74 68 77 74, Austin Bautista 72 72 73 76, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 71 72 76, Jason Roets 73 72 71 77
294 – Jordan Burnand 73 74 75 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 68 79 77
295 – Tristen Strydom 74 73 77 71, Thomas Spreadborough 74 71 75 75
296 – Pierre Viallaneix 71 73 77 75
297 – Paul Boshoff 71 74 78 74
298 – Michael Chuma 76 70 75 77, Danie Van Niekerk 75 68 77 78
299 – Franklin Manchest 69 77 77 76

Issued by Michael Vlismas

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Broomhead opened with a round of seven-under-par 65 at Benoni Country Club to share the lead with fellow South Africans Jason Roets and Samuel Simpson. They are two strokes clear of Graham van der Merwe, Malcolm Mitchell and Ricky Hendler.

Broomhead’s consistency at the start of the season has been phenomenal as he’s finished second and fourth in his first two tournaments.

He kept up that momentum on Wednesday with a bogey-free round that earned him a share of the lead.

“I started on the 10th and made a nice birdie there, and then kept it going. I strung a few nice birdies along the way. I hit the ball well and made some good putts for most of the round,” said Broomhead.

It wasn’t the most that he thought he could’ve taken from the round, but Broomhead was still satisfied.

“It was a good day. It’s the first day and we’re playing just three rounds this week, not four like the last few weeks. So you need to adjust a bit. But I was hitting it nicely so I wasn’t getting too upset. It was still good golf even though some of the putts weren’t falling.”

The Benoni Country Club course is a fitting venue this week as the site where Gary Player won very early in his professional career on the Sunshine Tour.

And for Broomhead, the golf course is providing a strong test this week.

“The course is good and the greens are rolling really well. It’s firming up quite a bit, and some of the flags in certain positions on the greens can be tricky.”

SCORES

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

Issued by Michael Vlismas Media

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Coetzee signed for a solid 69 to win on 19 under par at Serengeti Estates. Daniel van Tonder finished second on 16 under par with a final round of 69.

After a slow and steady start with regular pars on the first seven holes, Coetzee made an eagle on the par-five eighth hole and added a further two birdies and just one bogey that was enough to ensure him a victory.

“It was a very busy day for me in my head. I tried to stay in my lane and do what I have to do, follow my routines and to follow my gameplan to play as well as possible. Things worked today, but you never know. It took me like five holes just to feel like it was me playing, and around the middle of the round it started to feel a little better,” he said.

For Coetzee, after returning from injury and celebrating the birth of his child in this time, this victory was very special.

“You want to do stuff that your kids can be proud of, like I am proud of my parents and I want my kid to be proud of me.”

With the victory Coetzee moves up with 48 places on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy to the 28th spot, securing a place in next week’s tournament – the season-ending DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB.

The top 50 players on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy after this event progress to the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate, which will bring down the curtain on the 2024/2025 season.

Playing in the leading group on Sunday, Daniel van Tonder, the current leader on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy leader, pushed hard on the final day but could not close in on Coetzee.

Stefan Wears-Taylor’s eight-under-par 64 in the final round moved him into a share of third place on 14-under-par with youngsters Kyle de Beer (67) and Stals Swart (70).

Altin van der Merwe ended the tournament in a share of sixth place on 13-under-par with a 68, and thereby secured his place as the current leader on the Fortress Top Rookie of the Year standings with the final tournament of the season to come.

SCORES

269 – George Coetzee 65 66 69 69
272 – Daniel van Tonder 69 70 64 69
274 – Stefan Wears-Taylor 72 68 70 64, Kyle De Beer 69 71 67 67, Stals Swart 67 68 69 70
275 – Shaun Norris 67 70 73 65, Herman Loubser 70 69 68 68, Altin van der Merwe 66 71 70 68
276 – JJ Senekal 65 72 69 70, Jonathan Broomhead 69 65 70 72
277 – Yurav Premlall 74 66 68 69, Malcolm Mitchell 72 67 68 70, Jaco Ahlers 71 66 70 70, Pieter Moolman 67 68 71 71, Martin Vorster 70 67 69 71
278 – Dylan Naidoo 66 71 75 66, Darren Fichardt 70 69 69 70, Christiaan Burke 69 69 69 71, Kyle Barker 67 69 71 71, Jean Hugo 74 65 68 71, Ricky Hendler 69 66 71 72
279 – Ruan Korb 70 69 71 69
280 – Otto Van Buynder 69 74 67 70
281 – James Mack 68 73 72 68, Jacques Blaauw 71 69 71 70, Gerhard Pepler 72 69 66 74
282 – Jaco Van Zyl 73 71 70 68, Ethan Smith 70 72 70 70, JC Ritchie 71 71 70 70, CJ du Plessis 71 70 70 71, Simon du Plooy 71 68 72 71, Rourke van der Spuy 70 70 70 72
283 – Ruan de Smidt 68 72 74 69, Martin Rohwer 72 74 68 69, Heinrich Bruiners 74 68 72 69, MJ Viljoen 69 74 69 71, Fredrik From 71 69 69 74, Michael Hollick 72 71 66 74
284 – Hennie Otto 70 74 68 72
285 – Jean-Paul Strydom 73 67 76 69, Luke Jerling 72 71 70 72, Louis de Jager 71 73 69 72, Keenan Davidse 71 68 72 74, Joe Long 74 70 65 76
286 – Rhys West 75 70 71 70, Quintin Wilsnach 73 69 74 70, Ruan Conradie 72 70 72 72, Jovan Rebula 71 68 75 72, Graham van der Merwe 67 70 74 75
287 – Jason Roets 69 71 71 76
288 – Danie Van Niekerk 71 74 72 71, Rupert Kaminski 68 73 73 74, Franklin Manchest 73 66 73 76
289 – Stuart Krog 73 71 72 73, Jack Hawksby 71 73 72 73
290 – Luke Brown 77 71 71 71, Samuel Simpson 70 80 69 71, Nikhil Rama 73 71 72 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 72 72 70 76
291 – Stephen Ferreira 75 77 70 69, Kyle McClatchie 71 70 73 77, Keegan Mclachlan 69 77 67 78
292 – Wynand Dingle 75 71 71 75
293 – Lyle Rowe 71 78 75 69, Hennie O’Kennedy 76 73 71 73, Matthew Spacey 74 72 70 77
295 – Robson Chinhoi 72 77 74 72
297 – Dayne Moore 76 73 73 75
301 – Werner Deyzel 74 75 73 79
302 – Jacques P de Villiers 78 77 72 75
WDN – Tristin Galant 81 WDN WDN, Callum Mowat 79 73 RTD RTD

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