When Keith Horne won his first Sunshine Tour title in May 1998, Ernie Els was world No 1, Tiger Woods was second and Davis Love III was in third place.
On Sunday at the Arabella Country Estate, the 50-year-old Horne has the opportunity to win in an entirely new generation.
Horne signed for a second round of 68 in the Lombard Insurance Classic on Saturday, showing his intent early in the round when he opened with two straight birdies. His second consecutive 68 of the week lifted him to eight under par overall and into a three-stroke lead in this 54-hole tournament.
His nearest challengers are Rupert Kaminski and Louis Albertse on five under par, and both of whom were two years old when Horne claimed his maiden Sunshine Tour title. Kaminski worked his way into contention with a second round of 69 while Albertse signed for a 73.
One of the longstanding campaigners of South African golf is chasing a significant 10th title on the Sunshine Tour.
Horne has fond memories of Arabella, having won a Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament here in 2017.
“I’m feeling good. My results haven’t been great of late and I was struggling a bit. But now that the overseas tours have opened up for me again after Covid-19, I’ve been working hard and it’s nice to see it paying off,” said Horne, who is relishing playing a golf course where he feels more competitive.
“We’ve been playing golf courses that are bombers’ paradises recently and I can’t compete against the youngsters anymore. It’s nice to play a stunning course like this that requires thought, where the greens are hard and fast, and where I don’t feel like I’m playing catch-up all the time. I can be competitive, and it’s inspiring me as well. It’s so nice to be back in a position to win again.”
FINAL ROUND SCORES:
136 - Keith Horne 68 68
139 - Louis Albertse 66 73, Rupert Kaminski 70 69
140 - Herman Loubser 67 73, Luke Brown 72 68, Hennie O'Kennedy 69 71
141 - Ockie Strydom 70 71, Hennie Otto 68 73, Luca Filippi 75 66
142 - Pieter Moolman 69 73, Jacques Blaauw 73 69, Keagan Thomas 74 68, Jacques P de Villiers 70 72, MJ Viljoen 71 71
143 - Joshua Seale 69 74, Luke Jerling 73 70, Deon Germishuys 73 70
144 - Dean O'Riley 68 76, Clancy Waugh 71 73, Christiaan Basson 77 67, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 70, Wynand Dingle 70 74, Tristen Strydom 75 69, Kyle Barker 69 75
145 - JJ Senekal 73 72, Bradley Bawden 73 72, Martin Vorster 71 74, Joe Long 74 71, Richard Joubert 72 73, Combrinck Smit 73 72
146 - Heinrich Bruiners 74 72, Jake Redman 74 72, Franklin Manchest 76 70, Merrick Bremner 78 68
147 - Rourke van der Spuy 72 75, Chris Cannon 75 72, Keelan van Wyk 75 72, Stefan Wears-Taylor 76 71, Clinton Grobler 73 74, Jake Roos 71 76