Haydn Porteous and Tyran Snyders set the tone for 2026 on the Sunshine Tour, and it began with their respective 64s to share the lead in the first round of the Cell C Challenge in Honour of Gary Player at Killarney Country Club on Thursday.
A good par save for Haydn Porteous on the 18th to finish joint leader after the first round played at Killarney Country Club. #CellCChallenge pic.twitter.com/nDfuNFV0L5
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) January 22, 2026
In the first competitive round of the new year on the Tour, Porteous didn’t drop a single shot as he continues his resurgence in the game, and Snyders threw in an eagle two on the first hole to join him as the holders of a one-stroke lead over the field.
“Today was a good day,” said Snyders.
“I had a specific gameplan for Killarney because it’s a demanding golf course from tee to green. It’s not a course where you can go out and try and overpower it. It’s tight off the tee so you don’t hit many drivers and a lot more irons. Positional play is key and that was my gameplan. I executed it pretty well.”
The work Snyders did over the festive season on his chipping and wedges certainly paid off on Thursday.
Teeing off the 10th, he struggled to make too much happen on his first nine. But it came together on the second nine, beginning with a hole-out for eagle on the first.
“I didn’t get any putts to drop on the first nine. Then on the first I holed out with a wedge for eagle and that was a bonus. Then I made two birdies thereafter with good wedge shots. In the break I worked hard on my chipping and wedges and getting a variety of shots there.”
It also led to Snyders’ first 29 over nine holes in a tournament, on the par-70 Killarney layout.
“I’ve never shot a 29 in a tournament before so I was very happy about that. It’s a great way to start the year.”
Their nearest challengers are a group of six players on five under, including Deon Germishuys who is looking to build on the momentum of his victory in the Fitch and Leedes PGA Championship last November.
Porteous, after a strong comeback victory in the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Gowrie Farm late last year, continued that form with an opening round that adds to a solid run for him over the past few months.
Since winning in September last year, Porteous has had five top-15 finishes in his last eight Sunshine Tour events. That includes 14th in the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Snyders has also started to feel more at home near the top of leaderboards, and has had five top-15s this season already.
Their 64s were certainly a clear indication of the scoring tone set for this year, with just under half the field finishing under par after day one.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
64 - Haydn Porteous, Tyran Snyders
65 - Xander Basson, Robson Chinhoi, Jason Roets, Deon Germishuys, Pierre Viallaneix, David Amm
66 - MJ Viljoen, Yurav Premlall, Conner Mackenzie, Nikhil Rama, Justin Walters
67 - Christian Kriek, Tristen Strydom, Jack Hawksby, Herman Loubser, Louis Albertse, Kyle De Beer, Keenan Davidse, Thomas Spreadborough, Tomas Gana, Keegan Mclachlan, Allen John, Benjamin Follett-Smith, Martin Rohwer, Rowan Lester, Stals Swart, Karabo Mokoena, Joe Knox, Musiwalo Nethunzwi
68 - Kieron van Wyk, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Christiaan Burke, JJ Senekal, Ryan Van Velzen, Wilco Nienaber, Matthew Spacey, Luke Brown, Makhetha Mazibuko, Pieter Moolman, Stuart Krog, Jaco Ahlers, Gerhard Pepler, Joe Long
69 - Estiaan Conradie, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Jonathan Broomhead, Graham van der Merwe, MJ Daffue, Mikkel Antonsen, Otto Van Buynder, Ruan Groenewald, Jacquin Hess, Pierre Pellegrin, Zachary Chegwidden, James Mack, Jordan Burnand, Jean-Paul Strydom, Heinrich Bruiners, Anthony Michael
70 - Kian Rose, Hayden Griffiths, Ethan Smith, Wynand Dingle, Kayle Wykes, Jacques Blaauw, Kyle Barker, Thabiso Ngcobo, Slade Pickering, Brandon Meads
71 - Jason Broomhead, Peter Karmis, Ruan Conradie, Altin van der Merwe, Robin Williams, Rhys West, Malcolm Mitchell, Nyasha Muyambo, Khaya Jika, Jbe' Kruger, Lyle Rowe, Jaco Prinsloo, Dylan Mostert, Kyle McClatchie
72 - Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Merrick Bremner, Franklin Manchest, Doug McGuigan, Tyrone Ryan, Benjamin Van Wyk, Daniel Cronje, CJ du Plessis, Ryan van der Klis, Keelan van Wyk, Danie Van Niekerk, Martin Vorster, Luke Jerling, Keagan Thomas, Toto Thimba Jnr, Callum Mowat
73 - Sentanio Minnie, Neil Schietekat, Leon Vorster, Simon du Plooy, Albert Venter, Hennie Otto, Samuel Simpson, Ruan Korb, Rupert Kaminski, Warwick Purchase, Stephen Ferreira, Liam Grehan, Keanu Pestana
74 - Ruan de Smidt, Allister de Kock, Quintin Wilsnach, Hennie O'Kennedy, Tyron Davidowitz
75 - Keelan Africa, Werner Deyzel
76 - Ricky Hendler, Jordan Duminy, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Jacques Van der Merwe
77 - John Bele, Jacques P de Villiers, Gregory Mckay
78 - James Pennington, Umar Davids, Jean Hugo
79 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz
80 - Trevor Mahoney, SP Mthethwa
82 - Slenda Sithebe
83 - Eric Wowor
88 - Evance Vukeya
RTD - Tristin Galant
RTD - Rourke van der Spuy