Big Easy Tour Feed

Liebenberg clinches maiden Big Easy title

Not even a triple-bogey finish could stop Louis Liebenberg from winning his breakthrough Betway Big Easy Tour title at Krugersdorp Golf Club on Thursday. Liebenberg, who plays out of Glenvista Country Club, along with Centurion Country Club’s Charl Barnard, were three shots clear of the field coming into the final round if this 54-hole event. Barnard struggled to get going and eventually shot an unwanted 81 while Liebenberg soared to the summit of the leaderboard. He was four-under through 17 on the day and 11-under for the week when he stepped onto the 18th. And he was leading by five shots. Then trouble struck. “I just blocked one right on the 18th,” Liebenberg recounted what led to that triple-bogey he made on the last. “A little bit right into the trees, and we didn’t find it. Luckily, my brother (and his caddie on the day) told me to calm down; that I had a five-shot lead. We are looking good; you just need to find the fairway, hit it somewhere up there and finish it off. “But, I’m very happy. This is the first time I’ve played a final round and felt like I had control over my nerves. I’ve been in this position a few times; the final group, and then I would just fall apart. To get it done feels really good.” He eventually signed for a final-round 71, taking his tournament total to eight-under and handing him a two-stroke victory over Daniel Cronje. He credited his flat stick for his title-winning performance. “I’ve always considered myself a good putter, it’s just the rest of the stuff that's a bit of a problem sometimes,” he said. “I could always rely on my putter and this week, it’s probably been the best that it’s ever been.” Liebenberg was understandably relieved to claim his first win on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit, especially given the struggles he’s had on the course this season. “I struggled at the start of the season, to be honest,” he admitted. “I’d made only two cuts before this week. So, to get a win this week, kind of out of nowhere; because I have not been showing any signs of this kind of golf. This is a bit of a relief but I always kind of knew that I could win out here, so it just feels incredible.” Liebenberg’s win has moved him to 12th on the Order of Merit and he will aim to keep rising up the rankings if he is to earn one of the 12 Sunshine Tiur cards awarded to the leading 12 players when the season ends. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Liebenberg and Barnard share healthy Big Easy lead ahead of final round

Louis Liebenberg backed up his opening 68 with a second-round 69 on Wednesday to get his total to seven-under for the week, tying the lead with Charl Barnard ahead of the final round at Krugersdorp Golf Club. Liebenberg’s second round was characterised by four birdies and a solitary drop. “It was more of the same, I guess,” said Liebenberg, referring to how his second round was any different to his first. “Compared to yesterday, maybe I hit a few more greens today and it felt a bit less stressful here and there. Three under today; solid round of golf.” With a healthy three-shot lead ahead of the final round, the Glenvista Country Club professional is fully aware of what he needs to do to get over the line. “It’s going to have to be more of the same for me,” he said when asked how he will approach the final round. “I just have to stick to my process and do what I need to do; make the small choices and enjoy it. To be in contention for a tournament win always feels good.” Barnard fired in a near-perfect 68 to get to seven-under for the week and his round consisted of five birdies and one bogey. “The front nine was fun,” noted Barnard. “Back nine, I only hit two greens on the back nine. It was a bit of a stress; bit of up-and-downing, but overall, a fun day.” Barnard, a Sunshine Tour rookie, finds himself in contention for his first Betway Big Easy Tour title and the former GolfRSA national squad member is relishing the opportunity. “I think it’s a good practice for the upcoming events, being in contention,” he said. “So, yeah, I am looking forward to tomorrow.” Keegan Mclachlan and Jordan Wessels tie third on a tournament total  of four under par while Wandre Snyman and Daniel Cronje share fifth on three-under. Travis Procter, Ruben van der Berg and amateur Minjun Heo tie seventh on two-under and trail by five. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Cronje, Wessels in early Big Easy lead in Krugersdorp

Daniel Cronje was pleased to shoot a round of 67 in Tuesday’s opening round of the 6th Betway Big Easy Tour event at Krugersdorp Golf Club. “I’m very happy,” said Cronje after his round. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a good start so I am very happy with my performance today. I took a three-week break from the game; this is my first tournament back. “I was struggling and the game felt like it wasn’t in a good place; maybe I was over-golfed. A rest was needed and I feel more refreshed now and hoping to now keep going with this momentum.” Cronje’s 67 consisted of six birdies and a solitary drop. Tied for the lead alongside Cronje is Jordan Wessels who would have been disappointed with his finish on day one. Wessels was nine-under through 14 holes but made bogeys on all four of his remaining holes to post a round of 67. Glenvista Country Club’s Louis Liebenberg’s four-under 68 gave him something to smile about as he, by his own admission, has had to endure a few struggles over the course of the campaign. His round was made up of six birdies and two bogeys to leave him one shot off the early pace. “I am a little bit surprised because I haven't been showing signs of great golf lately,” Liebenberg remarked. “Today, I just told myself to stick to my process, take it shot for shot, and not worry about the future on anything like that; just try to enjoy it. “The greens were a little bit quick and firm as well so you definitely didn’t want to have little awkward wedge shots because it’s really hard to stop the ball. It’s a tough track this week.” He is solo third on the leaderboard. Sunshine Tour rookie Charl Barnard occupies the fourth spot after an opening three-under-par 69 while the big-hitting Christian Kriek, Wandre Snyman and Hannes Strooh share fifth after rounds of 70 on day one. Amateur Dylan Kayne is in a eight-way share of the eighth position, thanks to a round of 71 on Tuesday. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Smith claims breakthrough Big Easy victory

England’s Daniel Smith rallied from behind to claim his maiden Betway Big Easy Tour win, thanks to a final-round 70 at Akasia Golf Club on Friday. His total of seven-under-par 209 proved enough for the Englishman to walk away with a one-stroke win over Wandre Snyman. Smith’s final round featured five birdies and three dropped shots. “Today was stressful, actually,” admitted Smith. “I started the round a couple behind and then it got quite tight towards the end of the front nine. I thought I was there or thereabout with a few holes to play, and it’s always stressful. So, I am happy to not make too many mistakes coming in. “Personally, it’s just nice to get it done. Once you’ve been close and you’re not getting it done, it’s a bit of a monkey on your back. But, once you get it off, hopefully, I can push on from here.” Smith’s win follows a series of strong performances on this Sunshine Tour development circuit, making this victory even sweeter for the Englishman. “I am happy to get it done because I have had a few close ones over the last couple of weeks,” said Smith of his recent form. Despite his gallant effort which yielded a superb 68 in the final round, Snyman will make do with a second-place finish again this week, having lost in a playoff against Ruben Van Der Berg at ERPM Golf Club. Toto Thimba Jnr also showed his class this week and his final-round 71 helped him to a solo third finish on a tournament total of 5-under-par 211. Another player who showed up this week and gave a solid account of himself was the big-hitting Christian Kriek. Rounds of 72, 69 and 72 earned him a share of fourth with winner of the first event, Jordan Wessels. Wessels is having a fairytale start to his rookie season as a professional. The 21-year-old boasts a win already and lies second on the Order of Merit and has consistantly challenge for victories, perhaps a sign of things to come from the GolfRSA graduate. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

De Smidt maintains Big Easy lead at Akasia Golf Club

Ruan de Smidt produced a hard-fought one-under-par 71 in round two of the Betway Big Easy Tour 5 at Akasia Golf Club, taking his total to seven-under and two shots clear of England’s Daniel Smith ahead of the final round. Knowing that it was always going to be a challenge backing up his bogey-free opening round of 66, De Smidt was ready for the challenge. Things proved challenging indeed on day two as strong winds kept gusting for the entire second round in Pretoria. Staring his second round from the 10th tee and after making four straight pars, De Smidt was eventually rewarded with an eagle on the par-five 14th and a birdie on the next hole which is also playing as a par-five. He turned in 34 and bogey-free but things would change around the turn. His back nine 37 consisted of bogeys on the fourth, seventh and ninth holes, while a solitary birdie made it onto his card on the par-five eighth hole. “On the front nine, I hit the ball terribly and managed to go three-under,” noted De Smidt. “And then back nine, I started hitting it much better but then the putter kind of left me and I am bit disappointed with the finish but it was a tough day. All in all, it was not too bad. “I think I need to just go and figure out the putter really quick. This morning, I hit it really badly but on the back nine, I found my swing again. So, I just need to have the swing tomorrow and a little bit of a putting stroke.” Smith’s second-round 69 catapulted him to second on the leaderboard on a total of five-under. His round was characterised by four birdies, an eagle and three dropped shots as the Englishman played himself into contention once more. “It was very windy,” Smith remarked. “You had to be weary of your distances into the green because they all slope back to front, so if you go past the green, you’ve got no putt coming back. I managed to keep it under the hole a few times and hit a couple of par-fives in two, so it was good. “Hopefully, I can get over the line tomorrow but the key is to keep putting yourself in the mix because you never know what could happen.” Toto Thimba Jnr also came in with a score of 69 to get to four-under for the week and within touching distance of De Smidt’s lead. Also signing for 69 on moving day was Christian Kriek and he shares fourth with Jordan Duminy who shot 73 on Thursday. Rhys Enoch is in a four-way share of sixth at two-under-par while Vaughn Van Deventer is solo 10th going to the final round. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Blemish-free 66 hands De Smidt early Big Easy lead at Akasia

Ruan de Smidt fired in a perfect six-under-par 66 opening round in this week’s 5th Betway Big Easy Tour event, taking a two shot lead at Akasia Golf Club on Wednesday. Scheduled to start on Tueday, this fifth event was moved to start on Wednesday, owing to the nation-wide protests which have been widely publicised. De Smidt started off with a birdie on one and then another on the third hole. He kept things steady in the next three holes, walking off with pars on all three in an effort to keep the big numbers off his card. He found joy on the seventh; birdieing that hole and the next two after that. “It was a little bit of everything today,” said De Smidt, reflecting on his sparkling round. “Front nine, I had a couple of chip-ins, which helped. It felt like I plyed really nicely on the front nine.” It was on the homeward stretch that De Smidt showed his quality as he battled hard to minimize all mistakes. That was clearly underlined by the seven straight pars he made after the turn. He made gains on the 17th with a birdie that sealed a bogey-free 66. “On the back nine, it felt like I couldn’t get anything going. I hit nine putts in the first nine holes, and then 17 putts on the back nine, which is a big difference. But, it’s all good because six-under par is   always a decent round. “I’ve had a couple of week’s now where I get a good start and then, unfortunately, I have no consistency. Hopefully, this week, that changes a bit and hopefully play the par-fives better than I did today.” Leon Visser, Jordan Duminy and Werner Deyzel all signed for rounds of 68 to lie within two strokes of De Smidt’s lead. “A very eventful round,” noted Visser after his round. “I struggled to get going today and then suddenly the putter heated up and I had four one-putts in a row. That helped quite a lot. I think there are some good scores out there. “I did not start well in the last couple of events, so I’m happy to start well here. Starting well is key to having a solid tournament and I feel like I’m playing well. I am hungry and I want to be up there.” Kian Coetzer, Wandre Snyman and Worcester Golf Club’s Keelan Africa share fifth on the leaderboard, thanks to respective rounds of 67. Tying eighth after opening rounds of two-under 70 is the trio of Makhetha Mazibuko, England’s Daniel Smith, Joshua van der Wath, Noel Anderson and State Mines Country Club’s Vaughn Van Deventer. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Wessels off to a flying start in Big Easy Tour event at Glenvista

Jordan Wessels came out firing on all cylinders in the first round of the fourth Betway Big Easy Tour event, carding an almost-perfect eight-under 64 to lead by three at Glenvista Country Club. The recently-turned-professional Wessels started his round in the afternoon when Thabiso Ngcobo had already set the clubhouse lead at 4-under-par. A bogey on the first hole threatened his round quite early on, but the 21-year-old had other ideas. He recovered from that early setback with a birdie on the second, parred the third and then went on a four-hole birdie stretch which was eventually halted by back-to-back pars on eight and nine. Wessels birdied the 10th to keep his momentum going and followed that up with three more pars as he sought to keep the big numbers off his card. Another birdie got onto his card on the 14th before closing off his round with another pair of birdies. “I played solidly,” said Wessels. “But I am struggling a bit with my ball-striking. I did not hit it as well as the score says. I just kind of managed to keep it in play and give myself a decent amount of looks and I got the putter going pretty early in the round, which helped a lot. “The putting was really good today. It was one of those days where you need to come out and hit the ball a bit better for the rest of the week, then I’ll be on the good track.” Wessels is three shots ahead of Ruan de Smidt whose eventful round of 67 consisted of four birdies, two eagles and three dropped shots. “It felt like I played really well,” said De Smidt after his round. “I had three three-putts, which is never ideal but the greens are quick here. I was super disappointed with how I finished, though, especially the two par-fives on the back nine. I was on the green for two and couldn’t convert those to birdies.” Speaking about the eagles he made on 11 and 17, De Smidt said: “On the two par-fives, I hit beautiful second shots. I think I had five-feet and five-feet on both. Two short putts for eagles. I haven’t made many of those in the last few rounds, so I am happy with that.” Thabiso Ngcobo, Ruben Van der Berg, Sean Howell, Jacques van der Merwe and Logan Leisher are tied for third after they all signed for rounds of 68. Karabo Mokoena is in a six-way share of the eighth spot on the leaderboard, thanks an opening 69 which included a hole-in-one for Mokoena. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Rookie Makama settling in well among the elite.

Vuyisani Makama says while turning professional has had its own challenges in the early stages of the season, he is beginning to find his feet among the elite in the professional ranks. The 19-year-old Makama turned pro early in the year and has had a fair taste of the professional game, having started a number of events on both the Betway Big Easy Tour and the Sunshine Tour. “Through the first six events, I think the main difference is the quality of the players; better players,” said Makama of his early observations of what professional competition feels like. “There’s a lot more consistency here and that means a lot of hard work must be put in. For me the main things has been trying to get comfortable because I was a little nervous in the first few events. I’ve had to adjust to a lot of things; travelling expenses and all. But it has been fun with a lot of lessons along the way.” The Soweto-native has played a few Betway Big Easy Tour events this season, with a bulk of his starts coming on Sunshine Tour. “I have played two Big Easy events this season and a couple of the main Tour events, and I know I still have a lot of work to be done,” he said, while making an assessment of his campaign so far. “The key, I think, is for me to keep learning and behaving more professionally on and off the golf course. Because there is a big difference between playing amateur golf and professional; in the open amateur events, a 10-over score will make the cut sometimes, wgereas here, if you don’t have numbers in the negative, you’re going home. “That’s why I kind of turned pro a little early so that I can have a bit of time to learn and settle and find my feet; and have time to learn from my mistakes.” Makama will have another opportunity to test himself this week as he is in the 100-strong field of the 4th Betway Big Easy Tour event held at Glenvista Country Club this week. “I have played this course once before, so I do remember some holes,” he noted ahead of his tee-off time. “My aim is to keep building confidence for myself, and develop myself, mentally. These events are important in that aspect.” Regarding his short-term targets, Makama, like many others, aims to retain his Sunshine Tour status this season and build on from that when the next season begins. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Nduva Claims Maiden Sunshine Development Tour Title at Royal

Nyali Golf & Country Club professional Daniel Nduva produced a remarkable back-nine comeback to win the NCBA Royal Classic, the second leg of the 2026 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, played at Royal Nairobi Golf Club. Nduva, who began the final round tied for second place, carded a level-par 72 to finish the tournament on 3-under par 213, securing his maiden Sunshine Development Tour title and the winner's cheque of KES 400,000 from the tournament's KES 2 million prize purse. The victory was anything but straightforward for the coastal golfer, who endured a difficult opening nine. His front nine featured bogeys on the 1st and 8th holes as well as a costly double-bogey on the 7th, leaving him with work to do heading into the closing stretch. However, Nduva mounted a spirited recovery on the back nine, sinking crucial birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes to claw his way back into contention and eventually emerge victorious. Speaking after his win, Nduva credited his driving and resilience for helping him secure the title. "It feels really good to get this win. The front nine was challenging and I had a few unlucky breaks, but I stayed patient and kept believing in my game. On the back nine, I hit every fairway and every green, and that gave me the confidence to attack the pins and create birdie opportunities." "My driving was probably the strongest part of my game today. When you're hitting the driver well, it gives you confidence throughout the rest of your game. I managed to make five birdies on the back nine and that ultimately made the difference." "Last year I struggled with injury, so to come back and win again means a lot to me. This victory is a reminder that golf is about staying patient, fighting through the difficult moments and believing in yourself even when things are not going your way." For his efforts, Nduva pocketed KES 400,000 from the tournament's KES 2 million prize purse, in addition to valuable Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points. The battle for the title remained tight throughout the final round, with six players eventually sharing second place on 1-under par 215. The group comprised Kenya's John Lejirma, Rwanda's Celestin Nsanzuwera, David Wakhu, Greg Snow, amateur Adel Balala, and Nigeria's Sunday Olapade, who had started the day as the overnight leader. For their performances, the six players each earned KES 114,833 from the prize purse. Commenting on his performance, Snow said: "I'm pleased with the way I fought throughout the week. Royal Nairobi is always a demanding course and you have to stay patient because opportunities can come at any time. I gave myself chances, but a few shots here and there made the difference. Finishing tied for second is still a positive result and gives me confidence heading into the next events." Lejirma, who continued his impressive start to life as a professional golfer, said: "It was a solid week overall. There are definitely positives I can take from my game, even though I would have loved to get over the line. The competition was very strong and it came down to small margins. As a new professional, every tournament is an opportunity to learn, improve and continue building momentum for the season." Amateur golfer Adel Balala said: "It's encouraging to be in contention against such a strong professional field. I learned a lot over the three days, especially about managing pressure when you're near the top of the leaderboard. I'll take the lessons from this week and continue working hard on my game." On his part, overnight leader Sunday Olapade said: "It was a tough final round and unfortunately I couldn't maintain the momentum from yesterday, but that's golf. The competition was excellent and I enjoyed the challenge. I'll take the positives from the week and continue working hard as the season progresses." The NCBA Royal Classic attracted a strong field of 96 local and international professionals and amateurs from across Africa and beyond, all competing for Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and Sunshine Development Tour Order of Merit points. The tournament also marked the second event of the 2026/27 Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing season following the opening leg at Thika Sports Club, won by Rwanda's Celestin Nsanzuwera. Attention now shifts to the next leg of the Tour at Vetlab Sports Club this Sunday, 14th to 16th June, as players continue their pursuit of Sunshine Tour progression opportunities and valuable Order of Merit points in what promises to be another highly competitive season.

Thimba Jnr shoots low for first-round lead at Wanderers

Toto Thimba Jnr shot a low six-under 65 in the opening round of the third Betway Big Easy Tour event of the season, taking a single stroke  lead in this 54-hole tournament at The Wanderers Golf Club on Tuesday. Thimba’s near-perfect 65 consisted of seven birdies and a solitary bogey. “A productive day in the office,” said a satisfied Thimba Jnr after his round. “I hit the ball really well and I putted well, too. I made a silly drop on eight but I am pretty pleased with how I played today. "It’s good to see myself playing well again. Obviosuly, I have to compete with these youngsters and it’s not easy out there. The guys can play here and you always have to be at your best. I am happy I was able to play well too.” Trailing by a single shot after respective rounds of 66 is the duo of Makhetha Mazibuko and England’s Matt Millar. Like Thimba Jnr’s round, Mazibuko’s card also consisted of a solitary bogey which accompanied six birdies, while Millar had seven birdies and two bogeys. “I felt like I pplayed well today,” said Mazibuko. “I missed some but I think I made a couple of good putts and a few solid up-and-downs, so I am happy with my first round.” Liam Grehan, amateur Minjun Heo, Richard Kruger, Adam Breen, Jastice Mashego and Matthew Bennett are all tied for fourth after they all carded rounds of 67 in the first round here at the historic Wanderers. “It was the first round and I didn’t want to attack,” said the 17-year-old Heo. “The aim  was to try and make some putts and try to save some pars; play par golf. If some putts go in, it’s a bonus. “I feel like anyone can score well on this course. But you can either shoot really well or the course can beat you up a bit.” The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Indiza, Nsanzuwera Earn Sunshine Tour Cards, Join Njoroge Kibugu on Global Stage

Rwanda’s Celestin Nsanzuwera and Kenya’s Dismas Indiza have earned full playing rights on the Sunshine Tour, joining fellow East African Njoroge Kibugu following an impressive inaugural season of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing. The duo secured their cards after finishing second and third respectively on the Tour’s Order of Merit, capping off a highly competitive season that has now firmly positioned East African golfers on a clear pathway to the global professional game. The trio will now transition to the Sunshine Tour, where they have received special dispensation to feature in the early part of the 2026 season, known as the “Winter Swing.” The swing runs from April to June and consists of a series of tournaments across Southern Africa before the mid-year break in July and August. Their schedule begins with the Mediclinic Invitational from 15th to 18th April. They will then feature at the FBC Zim Open from 7th to 10th May, before competing in the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am from 14th to 17th May. The trio is also expected to tee off at the SunBet Challenge at Humewood Golf Club from 20th to 22nd May. Further events in the swing include the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions from 4th to 7th June, the Mopani Zambia Open from 11th to 14th June, and the KCM Challenge from 18th to 21st June, providing a consistent run of high-level competition as they settle into the Tour. Nsanzuwera earned his Sunshine Tour card after a standout season that saw him win the Diani and Kigali legs, alongside multiple top three finishes, to secure second place on the Order of Merit with 1,317 points. Indiza, who finished third with 753 points, claimed victory at the Ruiru leg and maintained strong consistency throughout the season to seal his elevation to the continental stage. They join Kibugu, who was crowned the inaugural Order of Merit champion after winning four of the 10 events and registering several top finishes. His progression has already been evident at the Magical Kenya Open 2026, where he was the only Kenyan to make the cut and went on to finish at an impressive 6-under par, the best score by a Kenyan in the tournament’s history. Speaking on the trio’s transition to the Sunshine Tour, Sunshine Development Tour Chairman Peter Gacheru highlighted both the opportunity and the challenge ahead: “This is where the real test begins. The Winter Swing is competitive, week-in, week-out golf against seasoned Sunshine Tour players, on courses that demand consistency and mental strength. For Njoroge, Celestin and Dismas to step straight into this stretch is a huge opportunity. They are not going there to make up the numbers, they have earned their place, and this is their chance to prove that East African golfers can compete and win at that level.” Speaking after securing his card, Nsanzuwera welcomed the opportunity to step up to the Sunshine Tour: “This is a big moment for me and for Rwandan golf. The Sunshine Development Tour gave me the platform to compete regularly and improve my game. Winning twice during the season gave me confidence, and now I am looking forward to testing myself against top players on the Sunshine Tour.” Indiza, reflecting on his season, emphasized the importance of consistency: “It was a long and competitive season, and every event counted. Winning in Ruiru and staying consistent across the other tournaments made the difference for me. This Tour has raised the level of competition in the region, and earning a Sunshine Tour card is a strong motivation as I take the next step.” The three now step up to compete on the Sunshine Tour, marking a significant milestone not just in their individual careers, but also for the growth of professional golf in the region. The performance of Nsanzuwera and Indiza highlights the competitive depth of the Sunshine Development Tour – East Africa Swing, which in its first season saw 88 players earn Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. The two recorded significant upward movement in the global rankings, with Nsanzuwera recording the biggest rise, gaining 2,981 places, followed by Dismas Indiza (+2,483), underlining the Tour’s role in providing meaningful competitive opportunities.

Cronje goes low to grab slender lead in Big Easy final at Waterkloof.

Daniel Cronje will take a slim one-stroke lead into the third and final round of the Betway Big Easy Tour Final, after a near-perfect second round of 64 took his tournament total to 14-under-par at Waterkloof Golf Club. His opening 66 was a solid round by any standard, but Cronje was left with a fair amount of disappointment heading into moving day. “It was good,” said Cronje of his second round 64. “I was frustrated after yesterday’s finish, so it was nice to come out hot this morning and yeah, I’m happy with the way I played.” Seven birdies, an eagle and a lone bogey characterised Cronje’s round while his closest challenger and overnight leader, Oliver Goldhill’s 70 consisted of six birdies and four dropped shots. The 23-years-old will once again find himself challenging for that breakthrough victory in the final round on Thursday. There were some notable big movers on Wednesday, including Jacques Van der Merwe who is chasing his fourth win of the season and seeking to etch his name in history as the first player to win four times in a single Betway Big Easy Tour season. Van der Merwe’s round of 67 took his total to 10-under and placed him in a four-way share of the third spot alongside Leon Visser, Tristan Leonard and Jake Bolton, who is looking for his second win this season as well. With a packed leaderboard set to guarantee exciting golf action for those who will be watching on the Sunshine Tour’s YouTube channel, Facebook Page and X, and for those who will be at Waterkloof on Thursday, the leading Cronje remains calm in the face of the coming challenge. “I haven’t actually looked at the leaderboard yet,” he said, walking off the 18th green. “I’d not know exactly where I’m lying, but hopefully, it’s up there and we’ll give it a run tomorrow.” Only the top 30 players on the Order of Merit are eligible for the final at Waterkloof and the top 12 players on the Order of Merit, along with the leading six transformation players, will earn their Sunshine Tour cards at the end of this week. The final round will be streamed live on the Sunshine Tour’s YouTube, Facebook and X platforms from 08H00 on Thursday. The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

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