Mexico’s Luis Carrera made Sunshine Tour history by becoming the first player to win the tour’s Qualifying School and then the first two tournaments of the season as he claimed victory in the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am at Irene Country Club on Sunday.
Carrera has hit the Sunshine Tour by storm ever since he closed with a final round of 61 to win the tour’s Qualifying School in April. He then claimed his maiden victory in the FBC Zim Open last week, and followed this up with a commanding 10-stroke win on 30 under par in the Kit Kit Cash & Carry Pro-Am.
These are the first two tournaments of the Sunshine Tour’s new 2025/26 season.
His victory also represents the growing global stature of the Sunshine Tour and its ability to draw some of the most exciting young professionals from around the world.
A total of about 60 per cent of the players, Carrera included, who earned their Sunshine Tour playing privileges at the recent Qualifying School were foreigners.
Sunday was another dominant performance by Carrera who closed with a 62 to win his second Sunshine Tour title in a week where he dropped only one shot in 72 holes. He has also earned close to R1 million in prize money in his brief time on the Sunshine Tour.
“It feels amazing. It’s a wonderful feeling. I played some of the best golf I played in my life and I’m happy about that. The Irene Country Club is a great golf course. I really enjoyed playing here,” said Carrera.
The Mexican beat a quality field for his second Sunshine Tour victory.
Dylan Frittelli, playing the golf course where he grew up, was his nearest challenger going into the final round only two strokes back. But his own 73 against the flawless golf played by Carrera saw him finish tied ninth.
And a clutch of Sunshine Tour champions in Oliver Bekker, Trevor Fisher Jnr., Jonathan Broomhead and Gerhard Pepler all settled for second place on 20 under par.
Carrera was simply in a class all his own on Sunday as he opened with two consecutive birdies and then made a further three birdies on his outward nine. He started the back nine equally strong with an eagle and a birdie, and then closed with two consecutive birdies to take the title and establish himself as the Sunshine Tour’s newest star.
Defending champion Kieran Vincent ended the tournament on 18-under par for a share of seventh place.
SCORES:
258 - Luis Carrera 63 67 66 62
268 - Oliver Bekker 67 68 67 66, Jonathan Broomhead 66 63 72 67, Trevor Fisher Jnr 64 68 67 69, Gerhard Pepler 65 69 65 69
269 - JC Ritchie 65 66 69 69
270 - Estiaan Conradie 71 63 70 66, Kieran Vincent 70 65 66 69
271 - Jaco Prinsloo 70 65 69 67, Jovan Rebula 66 67 68 70, Dylan Frittelli 69 63 66 73
272 - Martin Vorster 66 67 69 70
273 - Rourke van der Spuy 67 66 71 69, Stefan Wears-Taylor 69 68 68 68
274 - Tyrone Ryan 71 70 67 66, Thomas Spreadborough 68 70 65 71, Ryan Van Velzen 65 70 71 68, Graham van der Merwe 68 68 70 68
275 - Brandon Meads 68 70 71 66, Jordan Burnand 70 70 68 67, Hennie Otto 71 65 68 71
276 - Nikhil Rama 71 67 71 67, JJ Senekal 69 67 70 70, Ruan Conradie 69 70 68 69
277 - Fredrik From 69 71 70 67, Keegan Mclachlan 72 65 72 68, Keenan Davidse 68 67 73 69, Herman Loubser 74 67 66 70, Rhys Enoch 67 68 72 70, Conner Mackenzie 67 71 69 70
278 - Neil Schietekat 69 70 71 68, Austin Bautista 69 69 69 71
279 - Malcolm Mitchell 68 72 74 65, Gregory Mckay 70 69 72 68, James Mack 70 66 75 68, Luke Jerling 72 67 71 69, Jake Redman 72 66 70 71, Lyle Rowe 72 69 67 71, Rowan Lester 70 71 69 69, Jean Hugo 69 66 71 73
280 - Jordan Duminy 71 70 70 69, Stals Swart 69 71 70 70, Jason Roets 70 70 66 74
281 - Ruan de Smidt 70 68 72 71, Dylan Mostert 70 70 69 72
282 - Jbe Kruger 70 69 71 72, Samuel Simpson 66 75 72 69
283 - Stephen Ferreira 72 68 74 69, Jaco Van Zyl 69 71 70 73, Rhys West 70 71 69 73, Ricky Hendler 71 68 70 74
284 - Jacques P de Villiers 69 72 72 71, Jack Hawksby 68 72 72 72, Keagan Thomas 70 71 70 73, Rupert Kaminski 71 70 70 73, Luke Mayo 69 72 72 71
285 - Eric Wowor 71 68 74 72, Heinrich Bruiners 70 69 73 73, Hennie O'Kennedy 70 69 71 75
286 - Simon du Plooy 69 69 73 75
287 - Luca Filippi 71 69 75 72, Doug McGuigan 72 69 73 73
289 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 68 72 76 73, Dayne Moore 69 71 73 76
290 - Allister de Kock 73 68 77 72
292 - Ruan Korb 68 72 78 74
294 - Liam Grehan 71 67 78 78
MISSED THE CUT:-
142 - Sean Cronje 71 71, Joe Knox 68 74, Joe Long 74 68, Keelan Africa 69 73, Luke Brown 69 73, George Coetzee 72 70, Pieter Moolman 70 72
143 - Otto Van Buynder 73 70, Anthony Michael 72 71, Marcus Sandile Taylor 69 74, Altin van der Merwe 74 69
144 - Pierre Pellegrin 72 72, Kyle De Beer 65 79, Trevor Mahoney 72 72, CJ du Plessis 72 72, Jean-Paul Strydom 72 72, Franklin Manchest 70 74, Christiaan Burke 72 72, MJ Viljoen 72 72, Martin Rohwer 72 72
145 - Christian Kriek 74 71, Wynand Dingle 75 70, Pierre Viallaneix 71 74, Madalitso Muthiya 75 70
146 - Toto Thimba Jnr 74 72, Karabo Mokoena 75 71, Siyanda Mwandla 70 76, Thabiso Ngcobo 73 73, Kyle McClatchie 74 72, Stuart Krog 74 72, Louis Albertse 75 71, Albert Venter 73 73, Warwick Purchase 69 77, Paul Boshoff 75 71
147 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 75 72, Werner Deyzel 77 70, Matthew Spacey 73 74
148 - Sentanio Minnie 74 74
149 - Tyran Snyders 71 78, Christiaan Basson 78 71, Kayle Wykes 76 73, Robson Chinhoi 73 76
150 - Tristin Galant 77 73, Kyle Barker 75 75, Thanda Mavundla 74 76
151 - Jacquin Hess 73 78, Jastice Mashego 75 76, Nick Cunningham 73 78
153 - Merrick Bremner 79 74, Callum Mowat 78 75
156 - Danie Van Niekerk 74 82
162 - Umar Davids 76 86
RTD - Dylan O'Leary 78 RTD