Vorster retains DNi Tour Championship lead
- Sunshine Tour
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Martin Vorster retained his lead heading into the weekend of the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at the De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate and with a very clear focus of how to approach his quest for a maiden Sunshine Tour title.
On a slightly more tricky day thanks to the wind, Vorster signed for a second round of 67 that ended with an eagle two on the par-four 18th to lead on 14-under par overall.
His nearest challenger is Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith on 13-under par after he equalled the course record with his 63. And Jaco Prinsloo is currently third just two shots off the lead.
Vorster has had a magnificently consistent season that has brought him to this final tournament still hunting a victory.
But he’s determined to head into the final 36 holes of the 2025/26 season with a different focus as he looks to break through.
“I want to win with everything in me. But I think it’s important to phrase that I would like to win, and not I must win. If I can control my controllables really well, that’s all I can do. I can’t control what anybody else does around me. I’m just going to give it my best,” he said.
Vorster will take confidence from having retained his lead in the face of tougher conditions and the charge from Follett-Smith.
“It was definitely much harder out there. Benjamin’s 63 is unbelievable because of the wind and a few tougher flag positions. My goal today was just to try and stick to my routines and commit to my shots. It’s nice to add up the score and see that I’m in the lead.”
Follett-Smith missed a makeable birdie putt on the last for a course record at the end of a day of birdies for him.
“My girlfriend was walking with me and she kept saying, ‘Birdie again. Birdie again’. It was going well.
“Overall it was a lot of good shots that paid off. The goal is to win but it’s also been nice to be here in the winelands. We’re staying on a nice wine farm and it’s good to finish your round and get your mind off golf a bit.”
Scores
130 - Martin Vorster 63 67
131 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 68 63
132 - Jaco Prinsloo 64 68
133 - Zander Lombard 65 68
135 - Graham van der Merwe 68 67
135 - Altin van der Merwe 67 68
136 - Luke Brown 68 68
136 - Austin Bautista 65 71
137 - Luis Carrera 65 72
138 - MJ Viljoen 70 68
138 - Ryan Van Velzen 70 68, Hennie Otto 69 69, Nikhil Rama 68 70
139 - Louis Albertse 72 67
139 - Jason Roets 71 68, Brandon Stone 70 69, Trevor Fisher Jnr 70 69, Lyle Rowe 67 72
140 - Bryce Easton 71 69
140 - Keenan Davidse 71 69, Herman Loubser 70 70, JC Ritchie 70 70, Deon Germishuys 68 72
141 - Tyran Snyders 70 71
141 - Samuel Simpson 68 73
142 - Pierre Viallaneix 75 67
142 - Kyle Barker 73 69, Allen John 71 71, Kyle De Beer 69 73
143 - Haydn Porteous 72 71
143 - Warwick Purchase 69 74
144 - Stuart Krog 72 72
144 - Daniel van Tonder 71 73, Malcolm Mitchell 69 75
145 - Christiaan Burke 72 73
146 - Pieter Moolman 71 75
148 - Gerhard Pepler 72 76
149 - Estiaan Conradie 75 74
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