Pieter Moolman opened with an impressive 63 to lead the KCM Golf Challenge by two strokes at the Nchanga Golf Club in Zambia on Thursday.
Moolman’s round of nine under par was bogey free as he distanced himself from the chasing trio of Oliver Goldhill, Jaco Prinsloo and Estiaan Conradie.
The four-time Sunshine Tour champion started his round with four birdies over the first five holes followed by an eagle on the par-five seventh, and then added three birdies over the closing four holes.
Sunshine Tour rookie Goldhill made a strong start with his opening 65.
“I’ve played some really good golf today. I think the putter was probably the key club today. I made some really good putts, kept the ball in play and made a nice eagle on the 17th hole, which is for me the highlight of the day,” said Goldhill, who seems quite comfortable having made the transition from amateur to professional.
“I lived in Europe for a while and after returning to South African I played on the GolfRSA circuit. I then made my way to the Betway Big Easy Tour where I graduated by winning the recent final at Waterkloof in a playoff.
“It’s my first season on the Sunshine Tour and it’s an awesome experience to be here in Zambia with new cultures and lifestyles that you got to get exposed to. The travel is just awesome. I am looking forward to the rest of the week,” Goldhill said.
A shot behind him on six under par is the duo of Toto Thimba Jnr and Stals Swart.
🇿🇦 Toto Thimba Jnr almost holes out for an eagle on the 18th. 👏 He finished on -6 and one shot off the lead. 💪#KCMGolfChallenge #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/4jYnbWTf5a
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) June 18, 2026