Jacques Van Der Merwe claimed his second Betway Big Easy Tour title in as many starts when he claimed a come-from-behind win in the sixth event of the season held at Reading Country Club.
Van Der Merwe, who plays out of Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, entered the final round five shots off the pace set by member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, Mark Maart.
But as Maart laboured to a final round of 71, Van der Merwe was making strides, and his near-perfect six-under-par 65 would prove enough to earn Van der Merwe a one-shot victory and a place among the few who have been able to claim back-to-back wins on this circuit in recent times.
Van Der Merwe’s round featured an eagle, five birdies and a solitary drop.
"It was tough, but it was fun,” he remarked. “I knew I had to go low today. My dad told me this morning that seven should be good, and I said the putter is not that hot this week. But I managed to make a few putts, and here I am standing with the trophy.
"Going back-to-back on the Big Easy is unbelievable. I’m still in shock. I didn't think that it was possible for me. But I learned that I should never limit myself. After this week, I know that my capabilities are way more than what I used to believe.”
With two wins already this season and a favourable position on the Order of Merit standings (ranked second after this week), Van Der Merwe practically has one hand on his 2026 Sunshine Tour card.
"I didn’t even know that,” he said of his position on the rankings. “But my job is not done. There are a lot of tournaments to come, but hopefully, just as many wins to come. I must keep working hard; see my coach, spend some time with my sports psychologist and try to work through everything that’s happened. I think it’s important for me to get back to my routines and processes. But the job is not done.”
While Maart fought hard to claim his breakthrough win, he eventually settled for a share of second alongside Daniel Cronje and Kian Rose, who was making his Betway Big Easy Tour debut at Reading.
The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons. The top 12 players on the Order of merit at the end of the season will earn their Sunshine Tour cards for next season.
SCORES
204 - Jacques Van der Merwe 69 70 65
205 - Daniel Cronje 69 69 67, Kian Rose 66 69 70, Mark Maart 64 70 71
206 - Joe Sullivan 68 70 68
209 - Richard Joubert 72 71 66, Lyle Pedro 72 67 70, Tiago Jorge Swart 69 70 70, Matt Millar 70 67 72, Therion Nel 70 67 72
210 - Jason Froneman 68 72 70
211 - Andrew Williamson 69 66 76
212 - Hayden Garcia 70 73 69, Gary Kemp 72 67 73
213 - Ulrich van den Berg 69 73 71, Sean Howell 72 70 71, Leon Visser 68 71 74
214 - Andrew McLardy 70 73 71, Matthew Rushton 69 74 71, Jaden Deltel 72 71 71, Bradley De Beer 69 71 74
215 - Tumelo Molloyi 73 70 72
216 - David Amm 71 70 75
217 - Shaunak Rama 70 73 74, Thabang Simon 71 69 77, Philip Geerts 69 71 77, Brandon Pieters 72 67 78
218 - Harry Konig 74 68 76
219 - Adam Breen 70 72 77
221 - Travis Procter 73 70 78
MISSED THE CUT:-
144 - Steven Le Roux 69 75, Austin Cherichella 71 73, Vaughn van Deventer 73 71, Travis Ladner 73 71, Reece Mc Kain 71 73, Brandon Gildenhuys 71 73, Haydn Porteous 75 69, Matthew Bennett 76 68, Dillon Germshuys 74 70
145 - Hunter Walker 73 72, Sabelo Xolani Majola 77 68
146 - Regan Steyn 70 76, Drikus Joubert 73 73, Jonathan Ackerman 72 74, Andre Van Zyl 72 74, Keelan Africa 77 69
147 - Jabulane Mabilane 73 74, Brandon-Jude Rennie 69 78, Matthew Dennis 72 75, John Bele 70 77, Francois van Staden 79 68, Louis Liebenberg 74 73, Khanya Mkhize 74 73
148 - Kyle Lucas 75 73, Wade Jacobs 74 74, Tiger Adams 78 70
149 - Teboho Sefatsa 76 73, James Pennington 76 73, Oliver Goldhill 74 75, Jastice Mashego 75 74, Liam Ross 71 78
150 - Wandre Snyman 80 70, Irvin Mosate wa Mazibuko 78 72, Khaya Jika 72 78
151 - Chandler Shaw 75 76, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 72 79, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 78 73
152 - Richard Kruger 75 77
153 - LB Boshoff 75 78, Hannes Strooh 76 77
154 - Keagan Crosbie 73 81, Carl Mwale 79 75, Janko van der Merwe 81 73
155 - Ace Andile Adam 79 76, Austin Mashego 80 75, John Palm 78 77, Jarryd Govender 81 74, Alphius Kelapile 78 77
157 - Shaheed Patel 79 78
158 - Kael Strydom 80 78
159 - Tawriq Abrahams 81 78
161 - Richard Shi 76 85
162 - M-Jay Xaba 82 80
163 - Kyle Kistensamy 84 79
170 - Robert Mavundla 86 84
WDN - Slenda Sithebe 82 WDN, Lwazi Gqira 83 RTD, Ricco Motsa RTD, Umar Davids 82 RTD, Kian Coetzer 80 DSQ