9th May 2025 | Big Easy Tour
Van Den Berg snaps 10-year winless run with Dainfern win
Ulrich Van Den Berg is a champion again!
The 50-year-old Bryanston Country Club professional returned to the winner’s circle in some spectacular, if not dramatic, fashion after claiming a play-off victory over the young Jaden Deltel in the season-opening event at Dainfern Golf Estate on Thursday.
Following an exhilarating finish of 11-under-par 205 by both players, a sudden-death decider was necessary to determine the victor in what turned out to be a veteran versus youth encounter. The end was a four-hole sudden-death spectacle from which Van Den Berg emerged triumphant.
“I feel sorry for Jaden,” said the ever-so-professional Van Den Berg, sympathising with the young prodigy, Deltel, who is his club member at Bryanston. “To be honest, I should have won it in regulation. I three-putted 17 and 18 (in regulation), disappointingly. Then obviously, we both made two birdies in a row, and then we made scrappy pars. But then again, I three-putted on 18th where I won, but then again, Jaden didn’t get his second shot correct.
“So, I feel sad for him because he is an up-and-coming young player; he’s out of Bryanston and if he keeps doing what he’s doing, he going to win a lot.”
Despite his gentlemanly gesture towards Deltel, Van den Berg was always determined to claim this title. His last win was about 10 years ago, and despite not playing professionally for a while between then and now, Van den Berg always had the desire to win more professional titles.
“To win is the same thing, you know,” he said, “it doesn’t matter which Tour you play on. The last time I was able to get over the line was at Q-School in Europe in 2015. So, it’s been a long time.”
Despite having to wait for a decade for his 8th title sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, or this very feeder Tour, the Betway Big Easy Tour, Van Den Berg has been challenging for that top spot in recent times.
Last season, he had a few top 10 finishes on this circuit, highlighted by his two second-place finishes in the Play-Off and his defeat to Warwick Purchase at Glenvista. He was not going to lose this one. Tough and demanding as it was, by his own admission, Van den Berg was ready to ascend to the top once more.
“I like to think that I’ve kept myself fit,” he said of his prolonged career and desire to compete at a high level. “I value that. I do try to watch what I eat, and maybe that has helped over my career. And then, I’m a very competitive person; I always try to do my best. I don’t like coming to a tournament under-prepared.
“If I do something, I want to do it well. Even when I’m hitting balls, I try to do my best. So, when I come out, I always feel like I’ve got a chance to do well. That’s been the motivation throughout my career: to always try to get better even though I’ve gotten older. I’m not sure if that’s happening, but in my mind, I’m still trying.”
Having already secured his Sunshine Tour status for this season, Van Den Berg revealed intentions of continuing to compete on the Betway Big Easy Tour, the Sunshine Tour as well as the Sunshine Senior Tour later in the year.
This win will not only give Van Den Berg further motivation to succeed on the professional stage but also an affirmation that he has plenty more to give and, perhaps, plenty more to achieve.
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among other patrons.
