Emotional Purchase claims maiden victory in Fortress Invitational

Sunshine Tour rookie Warwick Purchase withstood a few final-round challenges on his way to a maiden victory in the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday.

Purchase, who held a three-shot lead going into the final round, had to endure a strong charge from the experienced Kyle Barker and a weather delay before closing with a 70 for victory on 19 under par.

Barker signed for a 69 to finish tied second with Fortress Rookie of the Year leader Mexico’s Luis Carrera (65) on 17 under par.

The moment Warwick Purchase became a winner on the Sunshine Tour. 🏆 🥇 #FortressInvitational pic.twitter.com/bXSqH1YC0r — Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) October 19, 2025

“I’m so happy to get the job done today. There were a couple of doubts going into the back nine and I had a bit of a tricky finish coming in,” said an emotional Purchase.

“I’m really proud of myself. I fought hard and dug deep. Right now, I’m a bit overwhelmed but I’m so overjoyed. I’ve had a tough time the last few months on the golf course, so to go on and do it this week, it’s awesome.”

Purchase came into this week’s tournament having missed the cut in his previous four events on the Sunshine Tour, and admitted it felt incredibly rewarding to finally break through with a maiden victory.

“Right now, it means absolutely everything to me. It’s obviously a goal and something I have been working towards. That’s why we practice every day and why we get up every morning. I’m really happy,” Purchase said.

With his victory, Purchase moves into second place behind Carrera on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.

Another strong finish by Carrera sees him climb into third place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit.

Tyrone Ryan closed with a 68 to take fourth place on 16 under par.

SCORES

269 - Warwick Purchase 66 71 62 70 

271 - Luis Carrera 72 70 64 65, Kyle Barker 69 67 66 69

272 - Tyrone Ryan 68 68 68 68

276 - Jonathan Broomhead 68 68 72 68, Daniel van Tonder 66 69 69 72

277 - Dylan Frittelli 73 68 67 69

278 - Benjamin Van Wyk 65 73 70 70

279 - Kyle De Beer 69 69 72 69, Rhys Enoch 69 67 76 67, Martin Vorster 66 75 68 70, Tyran Snyders 66 72 70 71, Rupert Kaminski 72 67 69 71, Pieter Moolman 68 72 68 71

280 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 65 73 72 70, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 70 69 70, Graham van der Merwe 72 69 69 70, Jaco Prinsloo 68 73 69 70, CJ du Plessis 68 70 71 71, Michael Hollick 71 70 73 66, Christiaan Burke 68 67 71 74

281 - Kieron van Wyk 69 73 68 71, Samuel Simpson 74 69 67 71, Heinrich Bruiners 69 69 69 74

282 - Jason Roets 67 70 73 72, Jacques P de Villiers 72 71 67 72, Neil Schietekat 70 71 72 69, Keagan Thomas 71 72 71 68, Haydn Porteous 73 68 73 68, Stephen Ferreira 71 71 66 74

283 - Luke Brown 69 73 67 74, Deon Germishuys 67 69 71 76

284 - Lyle Rowe 69 73 71 71, James Mack 69 69 70 76

285 - Keelan van Wyk 72 71 68 74, Herman Loubser 73 69 69 74, Justin Walters 68 72 71 74, Otto Van Buynder 70 73 70 72, Mikkel Antonsen 69 68 71 77, Gerhard Pepler 70 72 72 71

286 - Louis Albertse 67 75 71 73, Karabo Mokoena 71 70 72 73

287 - Pierre Viallaneix 70 68 72 77, Allen John 71 72 69 75, Keenan Davidse 72 70 70 75, Keegan Mclachlan 69 71 73 74, Kyle McClatchie 68 75 71 73, Ryan van der Klis 72 70 76 69

288 - JJ Senekal 70 72 72 74

289 - Matthew Spacey 67 76 71 75, Keanu Pestana 75 68 73 73, Hayden Griffiths 71 72 74 72

290 - Ulrich van den Berg 72 67 75 76

294 - Hennie Otto 68 73 74 79

296 - Thomas Spreadborough 70 70 82 74

Missed the cut:

144 - Jean Hugo 76 68, Nikhil Rama 71 73, Rhys West 72 72, Ruan Korb 71 73, Jacquin Hess 71 73, Christian Kriek 73 71, Tumelo Molloyi 69 75, Hennie O'Kennedy 76 68, Peter Karmis 73 71, Ethan Smith 71 73, Joe Long 70 74, Ricky Hendler 71 73, Luke Jerling 67 77, Jordan Burnand 69 75, Gregory Mckay 70 74, Quintin Wilsnach 70 74 145 - Leon Vorster 72 73, MJ Viljoen 73 72, Franklin Manchest 71 74, Brandon Meads 77 68, Toto Thimba Jnr 71 74, Wynand Dingle 71 74, Rowan Lester 71 74, Anthony Michael 72 73, Stals Swart 68 77

146 - Makhetha Mazibuko 76 70, Albert Venter 69 77, Jacques Blaauw 74 72, Dylan Mostert 72 74, Yurav Premlall 74 72, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 73 73, George Coetzee 74 72, Conner Mackenzie 74 72, Werner Deyzel 72 74

147 - Zachary Chegwidden 74 73, Christiaan Basson 75 72, Estiaan Conradie 73 74, Siyanda Mwandla 73 74, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 74 73, Ross Wellington 73 74, Liam Grehan 74 73

148 - Xander Basson 73 75, Altin van der Merwe 71 77, Stuart Krog 71 77, Jean-Paul Strydom 72 76, Malcolm Mitchell 71 77, Kian Rose 73 75

149 - Keelan Africa 75 74, Callum Mowat 78 71, Robson Chinhoi 75 74, Jack Hawksby 76 73, Rourke van der Spuy 73 76, Tristen Strydom 72 77, Ruan de Smidt 74 75, Nick Cunningham 74 75

150 - Danie Van Niekerk 73 77, Ronald Rugumayo 74 76, Luca Filippi 74 76

151 - Tyron Davidowitz 79 72, Marcus Sandile Taylor 78 73, Ruan Conradie 77 74, Slenda Sithebe 75 76, Slade Pickering 70 81, Khanya Mkhize 77 74, Simon du Plooy 73 78, Joe Knox 74 77

152 - Jason Broomhead 76 76, Eric Wowor 79 73, Trevor Mahoney 75 77, Paul Boshoff 77 75

153 - Thabiso Ngcobo 75 78, Shaunak Rama 77 76, Luke Mayo 72 81, Kayle Wykes 76 77, Ruan Groenewald 81 72 154 - Nyasha Muyambo 78 76 155 - Tomas Gana 78 77, Sentanio Minnie 81 74, Jastice Mashego 75 80, James Pennington 78 77 156 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz 78 78 157 - Harry Konig 75 82, Mark Maart 75 82, Tristin Galant 71 86 159 - Jordan Duminy 83 76, Umar Davids 80 79 162 - Merrick Bremner 81 81, Jake Redman 83 79 163 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 78 85 WDN - Allister de Kock 80 WDN, Thanda Mavundla 85 WDN