Samuel Simpson claimed his third victory on the Sunshine Tour this season when he won the Sunbet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya at The Woods at Mount Edgecombe on Friday.
The current Courier Guy Order of Merit leader closed with a final round of 65 to win on 13 under par, one shot clear of Graham van der Merwe, Rowan Lester and Pieter Moolman.
Simpson started Friday’s final round two shots off the lead and quickly made up ground with back-to-back birdies on the opening holes.
A further three birdies put him in the clubhouse with the lead.
The third winning putt of the Sunshine Tour season for Samuel Simpson. 🏆🏆🏆#SunbetChallengeSibaya #SunbetChallenge #SunshineTour #GreatnessBeginsHere pic.twitter.com/1EdOPBasrC
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) September 11, 2026
Van Der Merwe, who held the lead for the first two rounds, was tied for the lead through 17 holes but then bogeyed the last.
Irishman Lester earned his first top 10 and best finish on the Sunshine Tour to date with his share of second place.
“I love it down here. The weather is amazing, the food is good and I am playing a lot of golf, so I can’t complain,” said Lester.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in contention, but I felt like I handled myself well today, so I am quite pleased.”
Muzi West Hlope was awarded the Sunshine Tour caddie medallion as the winning caddie of the tournament.
Congratulations to Muzi West Hlophe on winning the caddy medallion, awarded to the winning caddy this week. 🥇 #SunbetChallenge #SunbetChallengeSibaya #greatnessbeginshere #sunshinetour pic.twitter.com/LWHxBsJ7WH
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) September 11, 2026
The Sunshine Tour now heads to Kigali for the inaugural Rwanda Open from 24-27 September.
SCORES
197 - Samuel Simpson 65 67 65
198 - Rowan Lester 70 65 63
198 - Pieter Moolman 66 65 67, Graham van der Merwe 63 67 68
199 - Nikhil Rama 67 64 68
200 - Jason Roets 69 64 67
200 - Austin Bautista 65 67 68
201 - Benjamin Van Wyk 69 67 65
201 - JJ Senekal 67 67 67, Haydn Porteous 65 68 68, Kyle De Beer 65 68 68, Jonathan Broomhead 65 67 69
202 - Jean Hugo 67 69 66
202 - James Mack 66 67 69
203 - Jaco Ahlers 69 67 67
203 - George Coetzee 65 70 68, Keenan Davidse 65 68 70
204 - Stuart Krog 68 70 66
204 - Callum Bruce 68 69 67, Malan Potgieter 68 68 68
205 - Jaco Van Zyl 69 70 66
205 - Stals Swart 68 69 68, Wandre Snyman 69 68 68, Jaden Deltel 68 69 68, Doug McGuigan 67 69 69, Benjamin Kedochim 67 69 69, Christiaan Burke 68 67 70
206 - Simon du Plooy 70 68 68
206 - Wynand Dingle 67 70 69, Jean-Paul Strydom 69 68 69, Cole Stevens 73 64 69, Martin Rohwer 69 67 70, Warwick Purchase 65 70 71
207 - Rupert Kaminski 70 69 68
207 - Albert Venter 70 68 69, Conner Mackenzie 70 67 70, Oliver Goldhill 73 64 70, Jbe Kruger 66 70 71, Hennie O'Kennedy 69 65 73, Malcolm Mitchell 67 66 74
208 - Neil Schietekat 71 68 69
208 - Tyran Snyders 71 68 69, Franklin Manchest 68 71 69, Ricky Hendler 69 69 70
209 - Altin van der Merwe 67 72 70
209 - Keanu Pestana 69 69 71, Minjun Heo 73 65 71, Jacques Blaauw 66 72 71, Luke Brown 69 68 72, Karabo Mokoena 68 65 76
210 - Dayne Moore 68 70 72
210 - Rhys West 70 68 72, Ryan Welsh 68 69 73
211 - Ethan Smith 71 68 72
211 - Anthony Michael 70 69 72, Allen John 71 66 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 70 67 74, Astin Arthur 66 69 76
212 - Eric Wowor 70 69 73
212 - Thabiso Ngcobo 70 69 73, Kyle Barker 70 69 73, Vuyisani Makama 72 67 73
215 - Lyle Rowe 70 69 76
216 - Quintin Wilsnach 71 68 77
Missed the cut:
140 - Mitch Phigeland 69 71
140 - Tristen Strydom 73 67, Kian Rose 71 69, Jacquin Hess 74 66, Liam Grehan 74 66, Gerhard Pepler 71 69, Jaco Prinsloo 70 70, Jacques P de Villiers 71 69, Keegan Mclachlan 71 69, Brandon Pieters 70 70
141 - Hayden Griffiths 73 68
141 - Travis Procter 75 66, Herman Loubser 67 74, Colin Nel 72 69, Travis Ladner 70 71, Carter Rowe 69 72, Luke Jerling 73 68, Tyrone Ryan 71 70
142 - Morris Schiefner 73 69
142 - Daniel Cronje 74 68, Keagan Thomas 72 70, Xander Basson 73 69, Ryan van der Klis 67 75, Shaunak Rama 70 72, Ruan Korb 71 71, Toto Thimba Jnr 73 69, Rhys Enoch 70 72, Jacques Van der Merwe 74 68, Sean Cronje 73 69
143 - Adam Breen 68 75
143 - Jared Harvey 73 70, Dylan Mostert 72 71, Matt Millar 71 72, Nyasha Muyambo 73 70, Thomas Spreadborough 74 69, Alex Haindl 72 71
144 - Ethan Govender 75 69
144 - Charl Barnard 74 70, Matthew Spacey 69 75
145 - Thanda Mavundla 73 72
146 - Tristin Galant 74 72
146 - Dillon Germshuys 74 72
148 - Steven Le Roux 75 73
149 - Lyle Pedro 77 72
149 - Martin Leon 75 74, Rigardt Albertse 76 73
150 - Otto Van Buynder 76 74
150 - Robson Chinhoi 76 74
151 - Dian Kruger 78 73
152 - Tristan Leonard 76 76
152 - Shaydon Johnson 76 76
153 - Rourke van der Spuy 75 78
154 - SP Mthethwa 77 77
155 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 75 80
155 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 77 78
163 - Jordan Duminy 78 85