This week Jayden Schaper makes his Major championship debut in The PGA Championship. Only a few years ago in 2021, Schaper finished tied fifth in the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am.
It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch for every Sunshine Tour professional competing at Irene Country Club this week to be thinking of a similar career progression.
Gerhard Pepler is the man at the forefront of chasing that long-term goal after opening with a nine-under-par 63 to lead the field by three strokes after Thursday’s first round.
It was a positive start by a player who has finished sixth and second in this event in the past, and who is coming off a seventh-place finish in last week’s FBC Zim Open.
The local were out in their numbers to watch Gerhard Pepler card an opening round 63. 🐿️🐒#KitKatCashAndCarryProAm pic.twitter.com/flCHlMRAFG
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) May 14, 2026
“I really felt good out there today. The gameplan was to play stress-free golf and I think I managed to do that quite well,” said Pepler.
His nearest challengers on six under are Tyrone Ryan, Christiaan Burke and Welshman Jack Davidson.
Pepler’s form at the moment has less to do with any swing changes and more to do with his lifestyle changes, having moved his family to the coast.
“The past few weeks the mindset is a lot better since we moved to Ballito. I am more relaxed so everything is falling into place, a little bit more where I want it to be. I’m very relaxed and enjoying golf again,” Pepler said.
He took full advantage of an early tee-time on a glorious highveld winter’s day, birdieing the first hole and making the turn with a further two birdies and an eagle.
“I got off to a good start after making birdie on the first hole. I hit a good tee-shot on the seventh hole to set-up a relatively easy birdie putt and then made a good par-save on the eighth hole which kept the momentum going. On the ninth hole I hit a good drive and seven iron to about 15 feet from the flag. I knew exactly what the putt would be doing and I made the putt for eagle.”
The back nine started in the same manner for Pepler with a birdie on the 10th hole. He added another birdie on the 15th and then closed with birdies on the 17th and 18th.
“The momentum just kept going so I am very happy to have finished the way that I did with the two birdies. I am happy to be up there and really excited for the rest of the week and what is still in store for me.”
SCORES:
63 - Gerhard Pepler 63
66 - Jack Davidson 66
66 - Tyrone Ryan 66, Christiaan Burke 66
67 - Pieter Moolman 67
67 - Jason Roets 67
68 - Ethan Smith 68
68 - Ockie Strydom 68, Kyle De Beer 68, Vuyisani Makama 68, Quintin Wilsnach 68, Agustin Errazuriz 68, Jacques P de Villiers 68, Rowan Lester 68, Charl Barnard 68
69 - Altin van der Merwe 69
69 - Jordan Burnand 69, Samuel Simpson 69, Danie Van Niekerk 69, Doug McGuigan 69, Estiaan Conradie 69, Graham van der Merwe 69, Thomas Spreadborough 69
70 - Benjamin Van Wyk 70
70 - Joe Sullivan 70, Justin Walters 70, Jean Hugo 70, Matthew Spacey 70, Kyle McClatchie 70, Ryan van der Klis 70, Tomas Gana 70, Jaco Prinsloo 70, Warwick Purchase 70, Ruan Korb 70
71 - Daniel Cronje 71
71 - Oliver Goldhill 71, Jaden Deltel 71, Keagan Thomas 71, Malcolm Mitchell 71, Wynand Dingle 71, Louis Albertse 71, Toto Thimba Jnr 71, Otto Van Buynder 71, Mitch Phigeland 71, Conner Mackenzie 71, Ruan de Smidt 71, Luke Brown 71, Xander Basson 71, Thanda Mavundla 71, Stals Swart 71
72 - Benjamin Kedochim 72
72 - Astin Arthur 72, Lyle Rowe 72, Stephen Ferreira 72, Martin Rohwer 72, Kyle Barker 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 72, Anthony Michael 72, Hennie Otto 72, Robson Chinhoi 72, Franklin Manchest 72, Hennie O'Kennedy 72, Pierre Pellegrin 72, Thabiso Ngcobo 72
73 - Travis Ladner 73
73 - Jaco Van Zyl 73, JJ Senekal 73, Kian Rose 73, Luke Jerling 73, Haydn Porteous 73, Luis Carrera 73, Neil Schietekat 73, Tyran Snyders 73, Gabriel Morgan 73, Simon du Plooy 73, Keelan Africa 73, Jacquin Hess 73, Cole Stevens 73, Keenan Davidse 73, Pierre Viallaneix 73, Makhetha Mazibuko 73, Allister de Kock 73
74 - Heinrich Bruiners 74
74 - Sentanio Minnie 74, Martin Leon 74, Eric Wowor 74, Ronald Rugumayo 74, Jacques Van der Merwe 74, Dylan Mostert 74, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 74, James Mack 74, Rupert Kaminski 74, Dayne Moore 74, Albert Venter 74, Liam Grehan 74, Matt Millar 74
75 - Hayden Griffiths 75
75 - Herman Loubser 75, Jacques Blaauw 75, Rhys Enoch 75, Merrick Bremner 75
76 - Travis Procter 76
76 - Rhys West 76, Tristen Strydom 76, Allen John 76, Ricky Hendler 76, Keanu Pestana 76, Rigardt Albertse 76
77 - Stuart Krog 77
77 - Tristan Leonard 77, Tumelo Molloyi 77, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 77
78 - Lyle Pedro 78
78 - Brandon Pieters 78, Steven Le Roux 78
80 - Jordan Duminy 80
80 - Karabo Mokoena 80
82 - Omar Sandys 82
82 - Shaydon Johnson 82
83 - Lwazi Gqira 83
IMAGE: Gerhard Pepler © Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour