Van der Merwe heads Q-School qualifiers after nervy last round

Apr 26, 2024 | Featured, Sunshine Tour

Amateur Altin van der Merwe set himself up for a start to his professional career as he won the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage on Friday at Heron Banks Golf & River Estate at a canter by three shots.

He led 21 other players to their Sunshine Tour cards.

Van der Merwe carded a closing two-under-par 69 as the pressure ratcheted up on everyone who was in with a chance of winning a card, and his final total of 15-under-par held Otto van Buynder at bay as the South African’s furious six-under-par 65 finish drew him level with England’s Nick Cunningham in a share of second place.

Van der Merwe won’t be turning professional immediately as he still has to take his place in the Open Championship in July. That was one reward for his Leopard Creek win in the inaugural African Amateur Championship.

That the pressure was significant was borne out by the number of players who stumbled down the stretch. Kyle McClatchie was cruising at five-under for the final round through 12 holes, and at 14-under for the tournament. But, from the 14^th, he made two double-bogeys in a row, then two bogeys on the trot, and then rounded it all off with a closing double-bogey on the 18^th. His closing three-over consisted of four-under 32 on the front nine, and seven-over 42 on the homeward nine.

In the end, at six-under for the 72 holes, McClatchie did enough to regain his Sunshine Tour card in a share of 12^th place.

Van der Merwe was one of three amateurs who qualified for their Sunshine Tour cards. The other two were Simon du Plooy and Gary Kemp. Kemp was another who felt the squeeze in the final round: After being in and around the lead for most of the first 54 holes, he closed with a four-over 75 and made it to his playing privileges at four-under on the number.

Luke Joy of England missed out by one stroke at three-under after a closing three-under 68.

Two veterans of the Sunshine Tour will make their returns to tournament play on the circuit, as Colin Nel and Brandon Pieters – both winners in their time – used their experience to reach six-under for the week.

The qualifiers: