Reigning South African Amateur champion Judd Sundelson will lead the national team in defence of the title when he earns his first senior cap at the 2026 Africa Region 5 Golf Tournament, to be played from 4–9 May at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club in Eswatini.
Sundelson, currently pursuing his master's in international relations and political sciences at the University of St Andrews, captured GolfRSA’s flagship title in February.
He will be joined by CJ van Wyk and Joshua Koekemoer, who also earn their senior national colours for the first time. Van Wyk climbed to second in the GolfRSA Open Amateur Rankings following his Cobra | Puma Northern Amateur double triumph, while Koekemoer, who previously represented South Africa as a junior at the 2022 All Africa Junior Team Championships and the Africa Amateur Championship, sits fifth in the standings.
Fourth-ranked Logan Leisher, a member of the South African side in the recent GolfRSA International Amateur Championship team competition, completes the national line-up.
South African Golf Association President Henk Smith, who will manage the team, believes the selected players have earned their opportunity through strong performances throughout the season.
“Congratulations to the four players selected to fly the flag for South Africa next month,” Smith said. “They have all enjoyed excellent seasons on both the national and provincial circuits and are thoroughly deserving of the opportunity to represent our country and GolfRSA on the international stage.”
He added that the growing strength of African golf ensures the championship remains a meaningful test.
“The Africa Region 5 Golf Tournament continues to grow in stature and prestige, and the level of golf across the continent keeps improving,” Smith said. “Competitions like this, hosted by the Africa Golf Confederation, play an important role in developing the game. It is always a fantastic opportunity for our players to test themselves against the best talent in Africa, and we are confident this team will represent South Africa with pride.”
The quartet will be determined to continue the country’s proud tradition in the championship after South Africa delivered a commanding performance in the most recent edition staged at Gaborone Golf Club in Botswana.
Astin Arthur, Charl Barnard, Ivan Verster and Dian Kruger delivered a dominant performance to secure a record 27th victory for South Africa, posting a winning total of 746 to finish 26 strokes clear of Zambia. Arthur added further gloss to the triumph, claiming the individual title with a commanding six-shot victory on 13-under-par.
GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn also congratulated the selected players and emphasised the significance of the championship in strengthening golf across the region.
“This tournament has become an important meeting point for African golf,” Hepburn said. “It brings together the next wave of talent from across the continent and creates an environment where players can measure themselves against their peers in a truly competitive setting.
“The four players selected by GolfRSA have earned this opportunity through consistent performances over the past year, and we are excited to see how they embrace the challenge of representing South Africa in Eswatini.”
Teams expected to contest the championship alongside hosts Eswatini and defending champions South Africa include Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.