Daniel van Tonder ended 2024 having been knocked off his No 1 position on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, and he’s determined to get that back as he heads into the weekend of the Mediclinic Invitational just one shot off the lead.
Van Tonder signed for a sublime 63 at the Heron Banks Golf and River Estate on Friday to come through 36 holes on 12 under par, one stroke behind leader Maximilian Steinlechner from Austria.
Steinlechner has put together two rounds of 64 and 65 to lead this Sunshine Tour event.
Leader at the halfway point 🇦🇹 Maximilian Steinlechner made this eagle 🦅 on the 15th hole. 👏#MediclinicInvitational #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/jA1xbW4GgU
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 17, 2025
It is so far a positive start to 2025 for Van Tonder as he chases a win so early in the year, and that No 1 spot which he relinquished to Shaun Norris at the end of last year.
How things stand at the haflway point of the #MediclinicInvitational 📊#GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/8zrbmvABOz
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 17, 2025
“It’s nice to start the year well like this. I want to take back my No 1 spot on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy. I don’t like being second. I’ve got a few good tournaments coming up to do so, and my game feels good,” says van Tonder.
He is also chasing his first victory as a new father following the birth of his daughter, Gabriella Grace, late last year.
“Our daughter was born when I was playing the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December. Then I played in Mauritius the week after that so I missed them a lot. I love being a father. Just looking at this small human being who is looking back at you, and you just wonder what’s going through her head. I must admit that seeing her smile for the first time has been the best for me so far.”
Joint lowest round of the day and one shot off the lead heading into the weekend.
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 17, 2025
New dad @DanieVanTonder_ is in a good position at the halfway point. #MediclinicInvitational #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/mXJhxp3nxz
The key to Van Tonder’s round on Friday was a strong second nine of 30.
“It’s my first time playing this course and it’s quite tough. It’s long and tight. You have to hit fairways here. But I’m also very relaxed at the moment. I have a good friend caddieing for me and we talk and laugh a bit during the round. It’s almost the same as when my wife caddied for me. It’s a similar feeling. You can’t just think golf 24/7. You’d have to lock me up if that was the case.”
A lot may have changed in Van Tonder’s life as he now takes on fatherhood. But one thing certainly hasn’t changed, and that will be his mindset this weekend.
“I don’t want to come second. I want to win. That doesn’t change.”
SCORES
129 - Maximilian Steinlechner 64 65
130 - Daniel van Tonder 67 63
132 - Wynand Dingle 66 66, Jonathan Broomhead 63 69
133 - Fredrik From 66 67, Altin van der Merwe 69 64, Jean Hugo 66 67, Jacques Blaauw 66 67, Jaco Van Zyl 66 67
134 - Benjamin Van Wyk 71 63, James Mack 68 66, JC Ritchie 67 67
135 - Callum Mowat 67 68, Werner Deyzel 70 65, Rupert Kaminski 68 67, MJ Viljoen 69 66, Martin Rohwer 69 66, Luke Brown 69 66, Dian Kruger 69 66
136 - Stals Swart 71 65, Heinrich Bruiners 67 69, Stefan Wears-Taylor 66 70, Keagan Thomas 69 67, CJ du Plessis 69 67, Jovan Rebula 66 70, Quintin Wilsnach 68 68, Tyran Snyders 67 69
137 - Regan Steyn 67 70, Ruan de Smidt 67 70, Dayne Moore 67 70, Justin Walters 68 69, Graham van der Merwe 69 68, Brandon Pieters 68 69, Pieter Moolman 70 67, Keenan Davidse 72 65, Gerhard Pepler 69 68
138 - Simon du Plooy 65 73, Craig Ross 70 68, Kyle Barker 67 71, Ruan Groenewald 70 68, Karabo Mokoena 71 67, Joe Long 67 71, Samuel Simpson 72 66, JJ Senekal 68 70, Yurav Premlall 69 69, Rhys West 70 68
139 - Promise Sombreiro 68 71, Jack Hawksby 68 71, Herman Loubser 71 68, Nikhil Rama 71 68, Jbe Kruger 68 71, Ethan Smith 70 69
140 - Eugene Du Plessis 73 67, Rourke van der Spuy 67 73, Stuart Krog 72 68, Robson Chinhoi 73 67, Louis Albertse 70 70, Andrew Williamson 70 70, Leon Vorster 70 70, Lyle Pedro 69 71, Otto Van Buynder 71 69, Martin Vorster 70 70, Malcolm Mitchell 69 71, Keith Horne 67 73, Lyle Rowe 70 70, Kyle McClatchie 67 73, Colin Nel 71 69, Adam Breen 67 73
Missed the cut:
141 - Franklin Manchest 69 72, Gregory Mckay 71 70, Matthew Spacey 70 71, Travis Ladner 74 67, Therion Nel 71 70, Christopher Long 68 73, Ruan Conradie 75 66, Christiaan Burke 71 70, Jake Redman 68 73
142 - Makhetha Mazibuko 71 71, Christian Kriek 70 72, Keegan Mclachlan 70 72, Alex Haindl 71 71, Keelan van Wyk 73 69, Vaughn van Deventer 70 72, Sentanio Minnie 74 68, Jason Roets 77 65, Jordan Duminy 72 70
143 - Hayden Griffiths 72 71, Thabiso Ngcobo 75 68, Jacob Oakley 72 71, Nick Cunningham 67 76, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 72, Tristin Galant 69 74, Jaco Prinsloo 71 72, Kayle Wykes 74 69, Brandon Meads 74 69
144 - Cornel Muller 71 73, Ross Mcgowan 72 72, Jacques P de Villiers 76 68, Danie Van Niekerk 72 72, Haydn Porteous 72 72, Umar Davids 73 71, Gerard du Plooy 71 73, Toto Thimba Jnr 72 72, Pierre Pellegrin 70 74, Conner Mackenzie 77 67, Kyle De Beer 71 73
145 - Christo Roos 72 73, Sean Cronje 74 71, Brandon Gildenhuys 71 74, Merrick Bremner 75 70, James Pennington 75 70
146 - David Amm 74 72, Neil Schietekat 72 74, Ricky Hendler 72 74, Estiaan Conradie 79 67
147 - Dylan O'Leary 75 72, LB Boshoff 77 70, Pride Sembo 73 74, James Kamte 75 72, Gary Kemp 73 74, Bradford Vaughan 78 69
148 - Andre De Decker 71 77
149 - Ruan Korb 72 77, Fabrizio De Abreu 76 73
152 - Albert Venter 76 76
154 - Irvin Mazibuko 72 82