Luke Brown powered his way to a second Sunshine Tour title with a closing 64 to win the Sunbet Challenge Time Square Casino at Wingate Park Country Club on Friday.
Brown finished on 19 under par overall following his round of six birdies and then a crucial eagle on the par-five 15th hole for a two-stroke victory.
“One win is nice, but there is something special about being able to prove to yourself that you can do it more than once. I think that is what’s going to stick with me more than anything else,” Brown said.
Defending champion Jonathan Broomhead and Ockie Strydom shared second place on 17 under par following their respective final rounds of 66.
Brown teed off Friday’s third and final round four shots behind leader Herman Loubser. After a steady start, he started his run towards the title with six birdies in eight holes, including three consecutive birdies from the ninth. Then the eagle on the par-five 15th sealed the title for him.
“I started four shots off the lead, which I thought would be quite a task to catch up to, but I just did what I did from day one and made the birdies when I had the opportunities. There were no mistakes in the last 36-holes, which helped. It’s nice to finish with a bogey-free 64.”
The last time Brown won on the Sunshine Tour was way back in 2021 when he claimed the Blair Atholl Championship. Since then, he has finished in the top 10 no less than 11 times.
“It’s been five years since my last win, and it’s been quite a journey since. To come out and win again is lovely. It’s been too long. I have no words.”
The Sunshine Tour now heads to the Ezulwini Golf and Country Club for the FNB Eswatini Challenge from 13 to 15 August.
SCORES
197 - Luke Brown 67 66 64
199 - Ockie Strydom 70 63 66
199 - Jonathan Broomhead 65 68 66
200 - James Mack 67 68 65
202 - Tristan Leonard 68 69 65
202 - Benjamin Kedochim 67 68 67, Travis Procter 66 66 70, Daniel Cronje 65 67 70, Herman Loubser 67 62 73
203 - Keagan Thomas 69 70 64
203 - Liam Grehan 69 67 67, Michael Hollick 66 67 70
205 - Christiaan Burke 69 69 67
205 - Pieter Moolman 70 67 68, Thriston Lawrence 67 65 73
206 - Stuart Krog 70 68 68
206 - Jason Roets 69 68 69, Kyle De Beer 66 69 71
207 - Daniel van Tonder 71 70 66
207 - Charl Barnard 68 68 71, Kieron van Wyk 72 64 71, Callum Bruce 68 68 71, Ruan Korb 70 65 72
208 - Travis Ladner 66 69 73
209 - Jordan Burnand 73 68 68
209 - Shaun Norris 65 74 70, Stals Swart 73 65 71, Agustin Errazuriz 66 70 73, Nikhil Rama 72 63 74
210 - Simon du Plooy 72 69 69
210 - Tristen Strydom 69 71 70, Cole Stevens 70 70 70, Jbe Kruger 68 71 71
211 - Zander Lombard 73 67 71
211 - Warwick Purchase 69 71 71, Dylan Naidoo 72 68 71, Rhys Enoch 70 70 71, Kian Rose 71 69 71, Martin Leon 69 70 72, Gabriel Morgan 65 72 74
212 - Hennie O'Kennedy 76 65 71
212 - Anthony Michael 73 68 71, Karabo Mokoena 68 71 73, George Coetzee 68 71 73, Xander Basson 67 71 74
213 - Franklin Manchest 72 69 72
213 - Gerhard Pepler 72 68 73, Tyran Snyders 72 68 73, Allen John 67 71 75
214 - Pierre Viallaneix 68 72 74
214 - Toto Thimba Jnr 70 69 75
215 - Keanu Pestana 74 67 74
216 - Luis Carrera 69 72 75
216 - Hayden Griffiths 72 69 75
Missed the cut:-
142 - Jean-Paul Strydom 72 70
142 - Wynand Dingle 70 72, Thomas Spreadborough 67 75, Keegan McLachlan 74 68, Jaco Ahlers 70 72, Ryan van der Klis 71 71
143 - Astin Arthur 75 68
143 - Rupert Kaminski 72 71, Jaco Van Zyl 69 74, Thabiso Ngcobo 73 70, Austin Bautista 72 71, Louis de Jager 72 71, Rhys West 69 74, Gustavo Silva 71 72
144 - Estiaan Conradie 69 75
144 - Haydn Porteous 72 72, Pierre Pellegrin 77 67, Adam Breen 69 75, Quintin Wilsnach 72 72, Graham van der Merwe 70 74, Keenan Davidse 74 70, Tomas Gana 73 71, Ricky Hendler 70 74
145 - Martin Rohwer 68 77
145 - Malcolm Mitchell 73 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 71, Rowan Lester 72 73, Dian Kruger 73 72, Ruan de Smidt 68 77, Conner Mackenzie 75 70, Oliver Goldhill 72 73, Neil Schietekat 73 72, Kyle Barker 72 73, Rigardt Albertse 69 76
146 - Njoroge Kibugu 70 76
146 - Merrick Bremner 70 76, Luke Jerling 74 72, Lyle Rowe 72 74, Matthew Spacey 75 71, Dylan Mostert 72 74, Jack Davidson 74 72, Dayne Moore 70 76
147 - Lyle Pedro 73 74
147 - Jacques Blaauw 77 70, Jacques P de Villiers 75 72, Carter Rowe 72 75, Joe Sullivan 75 72, Jaco Prinsloo 74 73
148 - Otto Van Buynder 78 70
148 - Altin van der Merwe 74 74, Shaydon Johnson 77 71, Morris Schiefner 73 75, Sentanio Minnie 80 68, Jacquin Hess 74 74, Steven Le Roux 76 72, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 74 74, Makhetha Mazibuko 75 73
149 - Jordan Duminy 75 74
149 - Eric Wowor 73 76, Ethan Smith 74 75, Matt Millar 74 75, Shaunak Rama 77 72
150 - Marcus Sandile Taylor 73 77
150 - Tyrone Ryan 75 75, Albert Venter 73 77, Carlos Bustos 74 76
151 - Dillon Germshuys 77 74
151 - Brandon Pieters 80 71, Jaden Deltel 73 78, Benjamin Van Wyk 73 78, Vuyisani Makama 77 74
152 - Mitch Phigeland 80 72
152 - Jacques Van der Merwe 72 80, Keelan Africa 75 77
153 - Cosmas Mufaya 78 75
154 - Darlington Chikayambidze 75 79
158 - Tumelo Molloyi 79 79
WDN - Robson Chinhoi 78 WDN