Toto Thimba Jnr returned to the Sunshine Tour winner’s circle in emphatic fashion when he claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the Altron Big Easy Tour’s eighth tournament held at Dainfern Golf Estate on Thursday.
What a start to 2024 for @TotoThimba 🤩#AltronBigEasyTour pic.twitter.com/sL8WRQ7aC6
— Altron Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) January 9, 2024
The Silver Lakes Country Club player last tasted victory on any Sunshine Tour-sanctioned event five years ago in the KCB Karen Masters in Kenya. Since then, Thimba Jnr has shown glimpses of the brilliant golfer many touted him to be. This week and in testing weather conditions, Thimba’s star shone once more.
Bringing a three-stroke lead into the final round after rounds of 61 and 66, Thimba Jnr knew that he had a chance for a win here and his final-round six-under-par 66 was enough to hand him a two-shot win over Ruan de Smidt.
“We are going to have a big lunch today,” mused Thimba Jr. “I have missed the feeling of winning a golf tournament. I played well this week; it was a phenomenal week for me. It was not easy today, though, because of the rain. I mean, the first nine holes were difficult but I kept calm and I was very cool under pressure.
“I only made one mistake today and that was on the eighth where I made a six. I think I hit my 6-iron into the water but I kept my cool and still played solidly after that. I had missed winning because the last time I won a tournament was about five years ago. So, to win again is special because it tells me that I still have what it takes. And, as I said, I didn’t go anywhere during the Christmas break and I kept working on my game. Now it is paying off.”
He made three birdies on the front nine and those were accompanied by that solitary drop on eight. Coming home and after the turn, Thimba Jnr went on a three-birdie run from 11 through 14 while masterfully keeping the big numbers off his card. He then finished with a birdie on the par-five 18th to seal a convincing win against a really strong field, a testimony to his strong mentality.
“I have worked hard to get my game back to where it is,” he said, “and I was very strong, mentally. That is one of my strongest aspects; my mindset. I did a lot of work in the gym and I have been on a healthy diet and I think it helped. Everything just clicked this week.”
It was not an easy ride for Thimba Jr. De Smidt was on top of his game and his 64 in the final round proved it. It was not enough, however, to hand the Krugersdorp Golf Club player an early victory in 2024. A seasoned campaigner in his own right, and despite wanting the victory for himself, De Smidt will be satisfied with his efforts in this first tournament of the new year.
As for Thimba Jnr, he will now look ahead with renewed confidence knowing that he is still very much capable of winning against a tough field and in difficult conditions.
The next event on this Sunshine Tour development circuit will be held at Waterkloof Golf Club next week.
SCORES:
193 - Toto Thimba Jnr 61 66 66
195 - Ruan de Smidt 67 64 64
197 - Stals Swart 70 65 62
198 - Pierre Pellegrin 69 62 67
200 - Oliver Goldhill 68 64 68
201 - Leon Vorster 64 69 68
202 - Warwick Purchase 66 67 69
203 - Travis Ladner 68 67 68, Andrew McLardy 67 71 65, Noel Anderson 64 68 71, Harry Konig 70 69 64
204 - Werner Deyzel 67 68 69, Marthin Scheepers 67 67 70, Pascal Gunther 65 68 71, Samuel Simpson 71 61 72
205 - Andre De Decker 71 64 70
206 - Franklin Manchest 69 68 69
207 - Ruan Groenewald 70 68 69
208 - Philip Geerts 69 66 73, Altin van der Merwe 70 66 72, Callum Mowat 66 68 74, Andrew Williamson 71 67 70, Henning du Plooy 64 66 78, Dylan O'Leary 68 71 69
209 - Jastice Mashego 67 71 71, Yurav Premlall 71 62 76
210 - Andre Van Dyk 70 69 71, Joe Knox 74 65 71
212 - Jason Froneman 70 69 73
213 - Vaughn van Deventer 68 69 76, Gregory Mckay 66 71 76, Thabang Simon 71 68 74
214 - LB Boshoff 73 66 75
215 - Christopher Bagnall 71 68 76
217 - Tristan Leonard 70 69 78
Missed the cut:-
140 - Cameron Moralee 71 69, Slade Pickering 67 73, Dayne Moore 71 69, Ryan Tipping 71 69, Jonathan Waschefort 72 68, Xander Basson 71 69, Ricky Hendler 69 71, Nicholaus Frade 71 69, Eric Wowor 72 68, Carlos Laranja 70 70, Paul Boshoff 65 75
141 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 73 68, Christopher Long 71 70, Shaheed Patel 72 69, Sabelo Xolani Majola 66 75
142 - Brandon Gildenhuys 74 68, Steven Le Roux 69 73, Gerard du Plooy 69 73, Keegan Mclachlan 69 73
143 - Conner Mackenzie 74 69, Matthew Rushton 72 71, Jacquin Hess 72 71, Carlo Heunis 78 65, Lyle Pedro 71 72
144 - Lwazi Gqira 72 72, Keelan Africa 71 73, Reece Mc Kain 77 67, Thomas Strandemo 73 71
145 - Luan Steenkamp 69 76, Reinhardt Blaauw 77 68, Wade Jacobs 72 73, Thabiso Ngcobo 75 70, Caylum Boon 70 75, Zabastian de Jager 71 74
146 - Coert Groenewald 73 73, Omar Sandys 72 74, Rigardt Albertse 72 74, Makhetha Mazibuko 72 74, Francois Van der Walt 73 73, Elliot Bradley 69 77
147 - Therion Nel 75 72
148 - Adriel Poonan 73 75, Brandon Moodley 74 74, Alphius Kelapile 76 72, Tumelo Molloyi 72 76, Siyanda Mwandla 76 72, Lindani Ndwandwe 74 74
149 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 74 75, Gerard Moodley 76 73, Evance Vukeya 75 74
150 - Irvin Mazibuko 75 75
151 - Jordan Duminy 75 76
152 - Jabulane Mabilane 77 75, John Bele 80 72
153 - Darren Gerrard 79 74, Johan Theron 75 78, James Pennington 82 71
154 - Sentanio Minnie 77 77
155 - Siphiwe Siphayi 74 81, Shalan Govender 81 74, TJ Sandys 73 82
158 - Slenda Sithebe 72 86
159 - Ricco Motsa 79 80
WDN - Bradford Vaughan 73 WDN, Umar Davids 87 WDN
RTD - Musiwalo Nethunzwi RTD