SA golfers dominate worldwide with weekend of wins
- Sunshine Tour
- 16 hours ago
- 4 min read
South African golfers dominated around the world this past weekend in a true representation of the Sunshine Tour’s statement that “Greatness Begins Here”.
In one of the country's most impressive collective performances in one weekend, South African professionals won on three different tours.
In Spain, Yurav Premlall made DP World Tour history when he won the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship by a staggering 14 shots – a record winning margin for a maiden title on the DP World Tour.
In Zimbabwe, Altin van der Merwe claimed his maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour in the FBC Zim Open.
In Asia, Ian Snyman claimed a maiden victory on the Asian Tour in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.
And in the United States on the PGA Tour Champions, Ernie Els was one shot off the lead going into the final round of the Insperity Invitational at the time of writing.
Premlall set the tone for his victory with a course record 63 in the third round which earned him $50 000 for the Course Record presented by Nexo. The young South African was chasing Tiger Woods’s DP World Tour record winning margin of 15 strokes, but was more than happy to settle for a life-changing maiden victory on the Tour at 28-under par.
“I’m just so grateful so it’s a dream come true. I’ll start with my mum – at least it’s a Mother’s Day present so happy Mother’s Day, mum. And yeah, for my dad, we worked so hard to get here. It’s so rewarding to stand up on this pedestal and be able to thank everyone for being part of this journey so far,” Premlall said.
The South African flag flew proudly in Spain as second place went to countryman Shaun Norris on 14-under par, while fellow South African JC Ritchie finished in a share of third place on 13-under par.
In Zimbabwe, former Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year, Van der Merwe, claimed his maiden Sunshine Tour title with a four-stroke triumph on 21-under par.
Van der Merwe led by four strokes going into the final round and closed with a 68 to add his name to a list of former champions of this tournament that includes Major winners and world No 1s.
“I’m very pleased. First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to my wife. This is her first Mother’s Day and I’ll see her tonight and see if I can treat her,” said Van der Merwe.
In a powerful statement about the future of South African golf, GolfRSA amateur Andries van der Vyver, winner of the Zimbabwe Junior Open, closed with a three-under par 69 to share seventh place on 11-under par and finish as the leading amateur.
And in Asia, Snyman claimed a two-shot victory in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on 15-under par.
“This is crazy. Two months ago, I was in the shower, and I was thinking, ‘Will I ever win again?’. You work hard and you run out of ideas about what to do and what to change. And here I am today, and we have managed to do it,” Snyman said.
Fellow South African Jbe Kruger finished tied ninth.
Scores (FBC Zim Open)
267 - Altin van der Merwe 67 68 64 68
271 - Austin Bautista 66 70 67 68
273 - Kyle Barker 69 68 66 70
275 - Tyran Snyders 69 70 71 65
276 - Samuel Simpson 68 69 69 70
276 - Jaco Prinsloo 66 70 68 72
277 - Gerhard Pepler 74 69 66 68
277 - Andries van der Vyver 68 67 73 69
278 - Ruan Korb 68 73 69 68
278 - Benjamin Kedochim 67 71 70 70, Kieran Vincent 72 70 65 71
279 - Keenan Davidse 68 70 73 68
279 - Cole Stevens 69 71 71 68, Jason Roets 67 72 71 69, Jacques Van der Merwe 69 68 71 71
280 - Graham van der Merwe 71 68 70 71
280 - Jaco Ahlers 67 73 69 71, Heinrich Bruiners 68 71 69 72, Gabriel Morgan 66 74 68 72
281 - Rupert Kaminski 73 68 71 69
281 - Jean Hugo 73 70 67 71, Rowan Lester 69 72 68 72
282 - Doug McGuigan 71 69 71 71
282 - Lyle Rowe 70 71 69 72, Warwick Purchase 70 71 66 75, Tomas Gana 65 68 73 76
283 - Herman Loubser 72 71 72 68
283 - Quintin Wilsnach 70 71 70 72
284 - Brandon Pieters 70 74 72 68
284 - Christiaan Burke 67 74 71 72, Ryan van der Klis 66 73 70 75
285 - Xander Basson 71 73 73 68
285 - Allen John 66 78 73 68, Joe Knox 70 73 72 70, Martin Vorster 69 72 73 71, Keagan Thomas 70 69 72 74
286 - Benjamin Van Wyk 73 71 72 70
286 - James Mack 69 75 70 72, Eric Wowor 73 71 69 73, Robson Chinhoi 69 74 69 74
287 - Visitor Mapwanya 74 70 72 71
287 - Haydn Porteous 72 71 70 74, Jacques P de Villiers 71 72 70 74
288 - Wynand Dingle 69 70 77 72
288 - Hennie O'Kennedy 69 73 74 72, Dylan Mostert 70 69 73 76, Pierre Viallaneix 74 70 68 76
289 - Stals Swart 71 73 74 71
289 - Rigardt Albertse 70 73 74 72, Zachary Chegwidden 69 72 75 73, Travis Procter 71 69 75 74
290 - Jaco Van Zyl 71 73 75 71
290 - Jacques Blaauw 72 72 74 72, Luis Carrera 68 76 72 74, Otto Van Buynder 70 74 72 74, Kyle McClatchie 69 72 73 76
291 - Simon du Plooy 69 69 72 81
292 - Darlington Chikayambidze 70 69 73 80
292 - Michael Wallace 70 72 70 80
293 - Conner Mackenzie 74 70 72 77
295 - Oliver Goldhill 71 73 72 79
297 - Jaden Deltel 70 72 74 81
298 - Merrick Bremner 66 77 78 77
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