Ryan van der Klis shot a final-round 66 to total 12-under and claim a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the 10th Betway Big Easy Tour event that was held at Observatory Golf Club.
The 24-year-old Van der Klis turned pro just four months ago after graduating from the Augusta University in July. Having had four top 10 finishes in his first five starts on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit, Van der Klis got his breakthrough win in his sixth start, a testimony to his ability and very high work rate.
Van der Klis was two shots off the pace coming into the final round and his par-eagle-bogey start was decent enough to keep him within reach of the leaders which included Musiwalo Nethunzwi, veteran Ulrich van den Berg and Andrew Williamson.
Birdies on the fifth and seventh holes eased Van der Klis’ nerves as he turned in 34. Coming home, a bogey on 12 threatened to derail his progress but Van der Klis bounced back expertly; birdieing four of his last six holes to get to 12-under for a one-stroke victory.
Ryan van der Klis wins the 10th Betway Big Easy Tour title for his maiden professional victory 🏆💪#greatnessbeginshere #betwaybigeasytour @ObsGolf pic.twitter.com/aLVvDbVmy5
— Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) January 23, 2025
“I’m truly ecstatic,” said Van der Klis after his dramatic win. “A lot of credit has to go to my coaches out at Augusta for getting me ready to compete at such a high level and against these really good professionals out here. It was nice.
“I wasn’t expecting to turn professional so early but the Betway Big Easy Tour has given me that opportunity to pursue that dream quite early and I had four top10s in the last five events and it’s nice to get the win on my sixth start.
“It’s nice to show up on the green and think ‘I belong here and I can do it’. So, to actually just prove it again with a win is satisfying and I’m incredibly happy to get the win here today.”
This was the final event of the regular season before The Playoff and The Finals where only the top 50 (playoff) and top 30 (final) players on the Order of Merit, will compete to conclude the season. Van der Klis’ triumph catapulted him to seventh on the Order of Merit, guaranteeing a spot in the abovementioned events
From there, only the top 12 players on the final points standings will earn their Sunshine Tour cards for next season.
SCORES:
204 - Ryan van der Klis 69 69 66
205 - Andrew Williamson 72 67 66, Toto Thimba Jnr 73 65 67, Ulrich van den Berg 69 67 69
206 - Francois Van der Walt 71 68 67, Thanda Mavundla 70 68 68, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 70 66 70
207 - Warwick Purchase 72 68 67, Siyanda Mwandla 71 69 67, Steven Le Roux 72 67 68, Christopher Long 69 73 65, Karabo Mokoena 66 72 69
208 - James Kamte 70 70 68, Ryan Tipping 68 70 70
209 - Tumelo Molloyi 72 68 69, Slenda Sithebe 70 71 68, Trevor Mahoney 72 70 67
210 - Richard Joubert 69 72 69
211 - Regan Steyn 70 71 70, Jacques Van der Merwe 72 70 69, Drikus Joubert 71 71 69
212 - Jastice Mashego 74 68 70, Leon Visser 72 64 76
213 - Christian Kriek 72 70 71, Sabelo Xolani Majola 70 72 71
214 - Kian Coetzer 71 69 74, Reece Mc Kain 73 69 72, Erhard Lambrechts 71 71 72
215 - Lwazi Gqira 67 75 73
216 - Andre De Decker 73 69 74
217 - Jaden Deltel 74 67 76
Missed the cut:
143 - Thomas Spreadborough 69 74, Thabang Simon 75 68, Mark Maart 71 72, Luke Mayo 71 72, Joe Knox 70 73
144 - Philip Geerts 71 73, Vaughn van Deventer 74 70, Tyron Davidowitz 74 70, Luke Trocado 73 71, Jonathan Waschefort 74 70
145 - Andre Van Dyk 71 74, Kael Strydom 71 74, Daniel Cronje 73 72, Xander Basson 76 69
146 - Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 74 72, Louis Liebenberg 75 71, Umar Davids 74 72, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 77 69, Miles Gray 78 68, Nicholaus Frade 71 75, Harry Konig 74 72, Dillon Germshuys 76 70, Brandon-Jude Rennie 76 70
147 - Basil Wright Jr 72 75, Allister de Kock 73 74, Michael Kok 76 71, Irvin Mazibuko 74 73, David Amm 74 73
148 - Letsoso Letsai 76 72, Coert Groenewald 75 73, Eric Wowor 74 74, Kyle Lucas 76 72, Jacquin Hess 76 72
149 - Tyrone Ryan 71 78, Jabulane Mabilane 75 74, Eben Spangenberg 79 70, Jarryd Govender 75 74, Jason Froneman 72 77
150 - Keelan Africa 75 75, Kayle Wykes 75 75, Nyasha Muyambo 76 74, Shalan Govender 72 78
151 - Khanya Mkhize 70 81, Khaya Jika 75 76
152 - Shaydon Johnson 75 77, Matthew Rushton 76 76, Keanu Pestana 75 77
153 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 74 79, Paul Boshoff 77 76, Slade Pickering 82 71
154 - Richard Kruger 80 74
155 - Boeta Nasie 75 80, Dean Ralphs 80 75, Terence Mogapi 79 76, Adriel Poonan 74 81
156 - Ricco Motsa 80 76
161 - Jonathan Williams 82 79
168 - Llewellyn Leibrandt 86 82