Golf · South African Sunshine Tour · 2026-2027

Date & time

18 Apr 2026, 08:00

Round

1

Location

Sasolburg, South Africa

The final round at Heron Banks Golf & River Estate brings the Sunshine Tour’s visit to Sasolburg to a high-stakes conclusion. The primary challenge for the field is navigating the "links-style" back nine, where the 3km riverfront stretch along the Vaal River often introduces unpredictable afternoon gusts. The objective for the overnight leaders is to maintain their scoring poise on the Danie Obermeyer-designed greens, which are traditionally at their firmest and fastest for the championship finale. Strategically, the final 18 holes are a test of trajectory control and mental fortitude. The goal for the chasing pack is to capitalize on the "gettable" par-5s—specifically the 11th and 15th—to apply early pressure before the leaders reach the demanding water-guarded closing holes. The tactical focus remains on the par-3 17th, a hole that has historically dictated the champion in this R2,500,000 event. With a significant winner's check and 2,400 Order of Merit points at stake, the ultimate goal for the contenders is to manage their ball flight through the river breezes and avoid the penalizing natural vegetation that frames the fairways.