Robin Williams might not have won on the Challenge Tour last week, but the latest Official World Golf Ranking made him a winner with a 55-place boost after his runner-up finish in the Kaskáda Golf Challenge.

He climbed to 321^st on the official rankings, his career-high on the list, and there is every sign that his upward journey will continue. He also climbed to number 14 on the list of top 25 South Africans on the official list.

Williams has already locked up a DP World Tour card for next season, thanks to his second place on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit for 2023-24, but with some more Challenge Tour action, he could seal the deal in a second way by finishing in the top 25 on the Road to Mallorca rankings. He is currently in sixth on that list, and he gets a start on the DP World Tour this week in the Netherlands.

South Africa’s top player is Christiaan Bezuidenhout in 40^th, where he remains after a quiet US Open campaign. Erik van Rooyen missed the cut at Pinehurst No 2, but remains at 67^th as South Africa’s next-best player. Dean Burmester made the cut, but his LIV home counted against him as he slipped three places. Casey Jarvis was the fourth SA player in the major championship, but his missed cut didn’t help him as a dropped four spots.

In Sunshine Tour action, MJ Viljoen jumped 64 places to 922^nd with his win in Zambia. His return to form and good fortune should help him move back towards his career-high of 256^th.

South Africa’s top 25:

1. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 40 (unchanged)
2. Erik van Rooyen 67 (unchanged)
3. Thriston Lawrence 94 (down 1)
4. Dean Burmester 114 (down 3)
5. Zander Lombard 127 (down 2)
6. Louis Oosthuizen 138 (down 3)
7. Garrick Higgo 214 (down 4)
8. Hennie du Plessis 243 (down 4)
9. Dylan Frittelli 251 (down 2)
10. Ryan van Velzen 297 (down 5)
11. Jayden Schaper 312 (down 4)
12. Ockie Strydom 315 (down 4)
13. Casey Jarvis 318 (down 4)
14. Robin Williams 321 (up 55)
15. Deon Germishuys 322 (down 10)
16. Shaun Norris 329 (up 9)
17. Jacques Kruyswijk 335 (down 3)
18. Louis de Jager 339 (down 10)
19. Aldrich Potgieter 360 (down 6)
20. Jaco Ahlers 370 (down 8)
21. Wilco Nienaber 373 (unchanged)
22. Brandon Stone 382 (down 7)
23. Darren Fichardt 392 (down 9)
24. Oliver Bekker 393 (down 10)
25. Jbe’ Kruger 440 (down 3)

Outside the top 25

Top 3 South African finishes at the Sunshine Tour event

• MJ Viljoen moved up 64 places from 986 to 922
• Jacques P de Villiers moved up 19 places from 752 to 733
• Daniel van Tonder moved down 4 places from 492 to 488