Michael Hollick ended the current Sunshine Tour season in the same way he started it with a victory in the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate on Sunday.
On a day when Daniel van Tonder was also crowned the winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy for the 2024/25 season, and Altin van der Merwe won the Fortress Rookie of the Year award.
Hollick closed with a sublime 64 to win on 19 under par, one clear of Jacques Kruyswijk and George Coetzee.
Michael Hollick celebrates his second win of the season. 🏆🏆#DNiTourChamps #CourierGuyPlayOffSeries pic.twitter.com/TJ9Dt3MFLE
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) March 30, 2025
“After playing sort of part-time the last two years and coaching, I’ve played really nicely for the past three or four months, so there has been progress. Sometimes you’ve just got to believe in yourself a bit. I think that’s what happened. It’s been an absolutely special year,” said Hollick, who started the season with a win in the FBC Zimbabwe Open.
Heading into the back nine of this event it was still anybody’s title as both Kruyswijk and Coetzee kept the pressure on Hollick.
But Hollick held his nerve and produced a great second onto the green at the par-five 18th to set up a birdie finish and claim the title.
The moment Michael Hollick won the DNi Tour Championship. 🏆#DNiTourChampionship #CourierGuyPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Op27t1MX9w
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) March 30, 2025
Hollick was not the only one celebrating on Sunday evening.
The leading three professionals on the final Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy who earned their DP World Tour cards (not already exempt) are Van Tonder, Jonathan Broomhead and Yurav Premlall.
That could change with Van Tonder in a position to earn a DP World Tour card through the HotelPlanner Tour this season already, in which case his card would move to Hollick as the next highest ranked non-exempt player.
As the winner of the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, Van Tonder also receives exemptions into The Open and US PGA Championship as well as the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
He also earns a R500 000 bonus, the use of a Hyundai Palisade for one year, and a seven-night international cruise worth R75 000 courtesy of MSC Cruises.
“This means a lot to me, especially after twice finishing second on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy. So to finally win it means so much to me. There are some great tournaments I can look forward to, and I’m finally going to be playing in the Nedbank Golf Challenge,” said Van Tonder.
As the second-placed finisher on the season standings, Shaun Norris receives a R200 000 bonus and the use of a Hyundai Tucson for one year.
Dylan Naidoo, the third-placed finisher, receives a R100 00 bonus and the use of a Hyundai Exter for one year.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Altin van der Merwe celebrated a memorable rookie season on the Sunshine Tour in which he came close to a maiden victory, and was crowned the Fortress Rookie of the Year which earned him a R200 000 bonus.
“It means everything to me. I’ve been looking forward to playing pro golf and the Sunshine Tour for the last seven years, so I could never have asked for a better first season. I’ve learnt a couple of lessons this season so I’m looking forward to next season,” said Van Der Merwe.
It was a celebration of another incredible season on the Sunshine Tour and which was praised by Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture who attended the final prize giving of the season.
“You look at everybody involved in this Sunshine Tour event, and this is what makes us a great country – all of the corporates who are backing our sport. In my opinion, South Africa has the best golfers in the world. Wherever you travel in the world, they either ask me about our golf or the Springboks,” he said.
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, was also delighted with a season that truly showcased the growing strength of the Tour.
“It’s been an incredible season with so many memorable moments and an array of incentives for our golfers from all of our wonderful partners. That’s what we keep working for – to create those pathways for our professionals to further their careers. We’re grateful for all of our partners for their support.
“I’d also like to thank everybody who played a role in making this such a successful season, from the Nomads who help with the scoring at all of our tournaments, to SuperSport and the media, to GolfRSA and the other golf bodies we work so closely with, and to all who play a part in this amazing product that is South African golf.”
SCORES
269 - Michael Hollick 69 68 68 64
270 - Jacques Kruyswijk 68 70 65 67, George Coetzee 67 65 69 69
272 - Jonathan Broomhead 69 66 69 68
275 - Yurav Premlall 74 69 65 67, Jean Hugo 71 68 67 69
276 - Daniel van Tonder 66 68 73 69
277 - Jacques Blaauw 67 75 67 68, MJ Viljoen 72 67 69 69
279 - Dylan Naidoo 69 68 70 72, Martin Rohwer 68 71 68 72
280 - Christiaan Burke 74 66 71 69, Malcolm Mitchell 70 69 71 70, Jovan Rebula 70 70 70 70, Martin Vorster 71 71 68 70, JC Ritchie 65 71 72 72
281 - Ricky Hendler 68 72 72 69, Pieter Moolman 72 67 69 73
282 - Darren Fichardt 70 70 73 69, Lyle Rowe 68 74 67 73
283 - Stefan Wears-Taylor 73 73 69 68, Gerhard Pepler 71 76 67 69, Heinrich Bruiners 75 68 68 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 69 70 71 73, Luke Brown 69 71 70 73
284 - Herman Loubser 72 71 70 71, Wynand Dingle 73 72 68 71
285 - Jean-Paul Strydom 71 70 72 72, Kyle De Beer 75 68 68 74
287 - Jaco Ahlers 73 72 70 72, JJ Senekal 69 73 71 74
288 - Kyle Barker 76 72 69 71, Jason Roets 70 73 69 76
289 - Rupert Kaminski 76 68 75 70, Hennie O'Kennedy 74 75 69 71
290 - Nikhil Rama 75 68 72 75
291 - Jacques P de Villiers 74 69 77 71, Freddy Schott 74 73 71 73, Luke Jerling 75 71 70 75, Fredrik From 72 73 70 76
292 - Keenan Davidse 70 77 70 75, Neil Schietekat 71 73 72 76
293 - CJ du Plessis 74 75 71 73
295 - Altin van der Merwe 70 74 73 78
297 - Rhys West 72 76 73 76, Jaco Van Zyl 75 75 71 76