England’s Corey Sheppard claimed the title at the BET Blu Label Unlimited Invitational #8, held at Pecanwood Golf & Country Club in Hartbeespoort, South Africa, from 20 to 22 October 2026. The tournament, part of the Big Easy Tour, featured a R150,000 prize fund.
Sheppard started the final round one shot behind the leader after carding rounds of 66 and 70 to sit eight under par after the opening two rounds. He made an impressive start to the final day, recording four consecutive birdies to take the lead early in the round.
Despite pressure from the chasing field, the English golfer remained composed as he worked his way towards securing the title. At one stage, Sheppard carded a five-under-par 31 on the front nine to move to 13 under par, opening up a three-shot lead as he headed to the 10th hole.
South Africa’s Slade Pickering had been among the leading contenders after producing a superb seven-under-par 65 in the second round, including an outstanding 29 on the back nine. Pickering finished the second round at nine under par, one shot clear of Zimbabwe’s Michael Wallace and England’s Sheppard and Joe Knox, who were all eight under par.
Wallace had set the early pace in the tournament with an opening-round seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead. England’s Zachary Chegwidden and Max Nicholls were also among the early challengers, while South African golfers Hannes Strooh, Thapelo Maichotlo, Danie van Niekerk and others featured prominently on the leaderboard.
The tournament attracted an international field, with golfers representing South Africa, England, Zimbabwe and Italy. It was played over three rounds at Pecanwood Golf & Country Club, a par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus and situated on the banks of Hartbeespoort Dam.
Sheppard’s victory at Pecanwood adds to his success on the Big Easy Tour, having also won the BETWAY Big Easy Tour 8 event at Benoni Lake Golf Club in September
