Du Plessis chasing fairytale comeback win

Hennie du Plessis. Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour

Hennie du Plessis’ incredible return to the Sunshine Tour continues as he claimed the lead in the Blu Label Unlimited Challenge heading into Saturday’s final round at the Gary Player Country Club.

Du Plessis heads the field on 41 points after adding 18 points at the Gary Player Country Club on Friday. His nearest challenger is Tyrone Ryan on 31 points after he could only manage a further two points. And Yurav Premlall is currently third on 30 points following a third round of six points.

Du Plessis has been a revelation this week as he’s returned from a lengthy layoff caused by surgery to his right wrist and then had his recovery further delayed by an injury to his left wrist.

“I’m very happy to be back, and to be back at Sun City which is such a special place to start my campaign again,” he said.

“It was very unfortunate. I was doing all the right things to rehab after surgery and then the left wrist got inflammation and an irritation of the joint. But in that time we had a baby and I had time to spend with him, which if I was playing a full schedule overseas wouldn’t have been possible.”

It’s been a remarkable comeback for Du Plessis who admits he came to Sun City just to test out where his game is at and who now suddenly finds himself chasing his third Sunshine Tour title. His last individual victory came in 2017, while he teamed up with Jean Hugo to win the Steyn City Team Championship in 2018.

“I’m just happy to be contending. I’m very happy with the work I’ve been putting in,” he said.

Scores

41 - Hennie du Plessis 13 10 18

31 - Tyrone Ryan 22 7 2

30 - Yurav Premlall 11 13 6

28 - Anthony Michael 8 15 5

24 - Christiaan Burke 1 8 15, Thomas Spreadborough 9 6 9, MJ Viljoen 9 11 4

23 - Lyle Rowe 9 11 3

22 - Allen John 7 3 12, Luis Carrera 7 8 7, Stals Swart 7 11 4

21 - Nikhil Rama 0 8 13, Herman Loubser 8 4 9, Heinrich Bruiners 6 6 9

20 - Wynand Dingle 6 2 12, James Mack 7 6 7, Ryan Van Velzen 3 10 7

18 - Haydn Porteous 9 0 9, Ruan Conradie 4 10 4, Pieter Moolman 7 8 3

16 - Altin van der Merwe 2 6 8, Benjamin Van Wyk 7 4 5, Jack Hawksby 3 10 3, Ethan Smith 11 5 0

15 - Matthew Spacey 3 8 4, Stephen Ferreira 8 3 4, Jaco Prinsloo 3 9 3, Keenan Davidse 13 4 -2

14 - Samuel Simpson 4 4 6, Hennie Otto 6 3 5, Trevor Fisher Jnr 3 11 0

13 - Oliver Bekker -2 10 5, Jacquin Hess 6 3 4, Hayden Griffiths 2 8 3, Daniel van Tonder 5 6 2, Joe Long 4 11 -2

12 - Jacques P de Villiers 3 6 3, Luke Jerling 4 5 3, Pierre Viallaneix 9 5 -2, Benjamin Follett-Smith 7 9 -4, Tyran Snyders 4 12 -4

11 - Ricky Hendler 4 4 3

10 - Austin Bautista 4 9 -3

9 - Michael Hollick 5 7 -3

8 - Rowan Lester 6 3 -1, Ockie Strydom 6 9 -7, JJ Senekal 4 8 -4

7 - Gerhard Pepler 6 4 -3

6 - Stuart Krog 6 3 -3

5 - CJ du Plessis 6 3 -4

2 - Justin Walters 10 3 -11