SUN CITY – Werner Deyzel holds a one-stroke lead after the second round of the SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun City on Thursday and the Sunshine Tour rookie said he really likes the Gary Player Country Club course – but only when he hits the ball well off the tee.

Deyzel shot a one-under-par 71 on Thursday to go to five-under-par overall, which was enough to claim the lead going into Friday’s final round as the wind picked up around the Pilanesberg.

The 24-year-old graduated from the Blue Label Development Tour this year and on both of the first two days he has had to feel his way into his round. On the first day, he was three-over after his first two holes, making bogey on the first and then a double on the par-five second. Deyzel then played some remarkable golf to post a 68, which left him one stroke behind leader Martin Rohwer.

On Thursday, he began his round on the 10^th and dropped shots on the par-four 11^th and on the par-three 12^th hole. He then birdied the 13^th but bogeyed the 15^th, before consecutive birdies at 16 and 17 were followed by another drop on the 18^th.

Deyzel seemingly had had his fill of this rollercoaster golf as he started the front nine, birdieing the first, second and sixth holes, with just one bogey coming home, on the par-four third.

“If I hit a good tee-shot then I like the course,” Deyzel joked. “But if you don’t hit a good drive, then this course will really punish you. But the Gary Player Country Club is stunning and I definitely enjoy playing here. I don’t know why I’ve started badly both days, but then it’s just been about keeping my head down and coming out the other end.

“I hit the ball very well and my putter was very hot. Most of my bogeys came from poor tee-shots that weren’t in play, and some of those holes I actually scrambled well to make bogey. But if I can be more consistent off the tee, then the way my irons are, and with my putting, I just need to hit the greens and I can make a really low score in the final round,” Deyzel said.

Playing in just his third Sunshine Tour event, Deyzel has the lead going into the final round, albeit a small one. But he doesn’t believe he needs to approach things any differently than he did when excelling on the Blue Label Development Tour.

“I’m extremely happy with how things went last week at Irene [he finished tied-25^th in the KitKat Cash & Carry Pro-Am] and this tournament has been good too. Hopefully tomorrow I can produce another good round, but I will approach it the same as every round. I just have to stick to my game-plan and not get ahead of myself. And I will try to enjoy it,” Deyzel said.

Jonathan Broomhead produced inspired golf on the front nine, with an eagle on the par-five second and two birdies leading him to a 69, which left him tied for second on four-under-par with Lyle Rowe (72).

Rohwer was among six golfers tied for fourth on three-under-par, as he came home in 40 to post a 74.

Tristin Galant also eagled the second and produced some special golf in his 67 to go to three-under, while Yurav Premlall and Jaco Ahlers both fired 68s. Neil Schietekat (69) and Luke Brown (70) are the other golfers tied for fourth.

image: sunshine tour

“Covid was a turning point for me and the start of my return to fullness and life.”

Investec-sponsored professional golfer Danielle du Toit tells her powerful story of redemption – from overcoming personal struggles in life to securing her Ladies European Tour card.
 
Du Toit will join an international field competing in this week’s Investec South African Women’s Open at Erinvale Country & Golf Estate from 25-28 April

By Danielle du Toit

I was lying on the grass under a Jacaranda tree at Pretoria Country Club waiting for the group in front of me. And that’s when I realised, in that moment, that I was put on this earth to play professional golf. But also more than this. I was put here to remind others that your worth is so much more than what you can do or give. There is so much more to life than that.

For years, I never believed that.

I always succeeded in everything I tackled at school. Then when I went to play college golf in the United States, my golf suddenly took a downturn. I realised that the way I had approached golf and my life was from a base of fear. And because my value had been so tied up in my golf, I started to question what I’m good for. I thought, if I can’t play golf, then I’m worth nothing.

Then Covid happened and everything shut down. During this time I got to the point where I clicked that I had real value, regardless of how well I played golf or the success or failure I had. That was a turning point for me and the start of my return to fullness and life.

I went back to college and finished off there. In my fifth year there we had a new coach and he helped me to find my passion for the game again.

When I got back from the United States last year, my golf wasn’t where I wanted it to be. But I worked hard and went from almost not being able to break 80 to getting my Ladies European Tour card. I still don’t know how that happened. So many good things happened to me. I made the cut by one shot to get through to the Final Stage of the Qualifying School. Then I made it on the last number there to get my full card. I had to shoot 16 under par in three rounds to get my card.

I sat down to do my planning and suddenly realised there was no way I had the money to travel to all these tournaments.

I knew Investec is so committed to women’s golf in South Africa, with a long history of supporting the Sunshine Ladies Tour – which thanks to them now offers the biggest prize purse in southern Africa, the Investec South African Women’s Open, Investec Order of Merit and the Investec Homegrown Award – and it is such an iconic homegrown brand. So I sent Peta Dixon, the head of sponsorships at Investec, an email. She was out of the office traveling, but a month later I received an email back from her saying, “We’ve been watching you from last year already.” And they got behind me.

Investec has been such a blessing. Their brand is so strong and aligns so well with everything I believe regarding growth and support, and giving opportunities to people.

About Investec
Investec partners with private, institutional, and corporate clients, offering international banking, investments, and wealth management services in two principal markets, South Africa, and the UK, as well as certain other countries. The Group was established in 1974 and currently has 7,400+ employees. Investec has a dual listed company structure with primary listings on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges.

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Credit: Sunshine Tour

Parys Golf and Country Club member, Leon Vorster overturned a two-shot deficit to win The Final of the Altron Big Easy Tour by four on 13-under-par 203 at Blue Valley Golf and Country Estate on Thursday.

Not only did Vorster’s victory hand him his maiden Altron Big Easy Tour title, but it also earned him and the other top 11 players on the Order of Merit their Sunshine Tour playing privileges for next season. Vorster carded a final round 67 which was characterised by six birdies and a solitary drop en route to claiming the championship in Centurion.

“I played really well today,” said a delighted Vorster after his win. “I got off to a strong start and that helped with the momentum going forward. The front nine was very important for me to set myself up on the leaderboard. Then, I made some crucial par saves on the back nine and that really gave me some confidence to finish it off.

“Being confident in this game can take you a long way, especially for me. So, I think my attitude helped me a lot today.”

Vorster’s win also catapulted him to the top of the Order of Merit, unseating Royal Cape Golf Club’s Samuel Simpson who had occupied the summit before this event. He credited the Altron Big Easy Tour for ensuring his swift return to the Sunshine Tour which is every player’s aspiration.

“You can’t put into words, the impact that Altron has made in our lives as professionals,” Vorster said. “The Big Easy is our way into the Sunshine Tour and to have a sponsor like Altron coming in to invest in us and our dreams is just wonderful. We have a full schedule where we play and don’t have to sit at home and it’s all thanks to such organisation and the Sunshine Tour.

“Personally, this win means a lot to me. There are so many people who are part of this journey and for me to be able to win a tournament and to know I’m going to be playing on the Sunshine Tour again is exciting.

“My focus now will be on trying to keep my Sunshine Tour card and making a few cuts. But, I just want to get better at golf in general and now that I have an opportunity to compete against the best, it just feels amazing.”

Ricky Hendler, Jason Roets and Keegan Mclachlan had already secured their cards for next season ahead of this final tournament of the regular Big Easy season. Both Hendler and Roets finished within the top 12 on the standings and having already secured their cards even before this event teed off, their places will be taken by the next two players on the list: Andrew Williamson and Philip Geerts. Roets finished outside the top 12 but won’t be awfully bothered.

The other players who earned their Sunshine Tour cards via the Altron Big Easy Tour are Simpson, Werner Deyzel, Stals Swart, Ruan de Smidts, Dylan O’Leary, Dayne Moore, Travis Ladner, Andre De Decker, Therion Nel and State Mines Country Club’s Vaughn Van Deventer.

Credit: Sunshine Tour

Doug McGuigan is holding onto the number one spot with 1 win out of 3 starts, with Andrew McLardy and Ryan Dreyer close on his heels.

Currently, the Senior Tour can boast having some big names as members. Given that Gary Player has retired from competitive golf, Retief Goosen and Ernie Els are our front runners when we present and promote our larger events. Membership is growing in quality players who have turned 50 years of age. Chris Williams and James Kingston have done remarkably well on the European stage while players like Des Terblanche, Doug McGuigan, Grant Muller, Keith Horne, and Brett Liddle have joined our membership this year. Mark McNulty continues to be our top draw card and has won four of the eight events he has contested in past four years that included two SA Senior Opens and two SA Senior Masters.

It is a pity that Covid struck again this year, as this has set us back from our visions and goals. A proper review and re-setting of our objectives is underway to enable opportunities for members and investors going into the future.

Ernie Els and Retief Goosen continue to do well on the Champions USA Tour, with Ernie and Retief both currently in the top 10 of their order of merit for 2021.