Van Wyk sibling rivalry off to strong start at Limpopo Championship

Keelan van Wyk outscored his younger brother Kieron by one stroke to take the clubhouse lead on five under par in Thursday’s incomplete opening round of the Limpopo Championship at the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate.

Older brother Keelan’s opening round was bogey-free and earned him a one-stroke lead over his sibling Kieron, as well as Rupert Kaminski, who is fresh from competing in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Play was suspended in the early afternoon due to lightning storms, and then eventually called off for the day at just after 4pm. The first round will resume at 7:15am on Friday, with the second round scheduled to start at 10am.

It was a strong start from both the Van Wyk brothers.

Kieron is in his rookie season as a professional and is making his debut in the Limpopo Championship following a glittering amateur career on the US College golf circuit, which saw him become the first Black golfer to win the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) individual conference title in 2022. He also finished tied fourth in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open in March while still an amateur.

Defending champion Deon Germishuys completed the first three holes of his opening round and was one under par when play was suspended.

SCORES

-5 - Keelan van Wyk

-4 - Kieron van Wyk, Rupert Kaminski

-3 - Allen John, Zachary Chegwidden, Graham van der Merwe, Rhys West, Robson Chinhoi, James Mack, Joe Knox [6]

 -2 - Jean Hugo, Stephen Ferreira, Albert Venter, Jason Roets [6], Rowan Lester [3], Tristen Strydom [3]
-1 - Karabo Mokoena, MJ Viljoen, Ruan Conradie, Tyran Snyders, Lwazi Gqira [6], Joe Long [6], Jake Redman [6], Matthew Spacey [3], Deon Germishuys [3], Keenan Davidse [3], Wynand Dingle [3], Altin van der Merwe [3], Hennie Otto [3], Jack Hawksby [3] Par - Dian Kruger, Heinrich Bruiners, Ryan van der Klis, Pieter Moolman, Nikhil Rama, Keagan Thomas, Kyle Barker, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Daniel van Tonder, Jaco Prinsloo, Dylan Mostert, Hennie O'Kennedy, Thabiso Ngcobo [15], Jastice Mashego [6], Keegan Mclachlan [6], Christiaan Burke [6], Jean-Paul Strydom [6], Ricky Hendler [3], Jonathan Ackerman [3], Kian Rose [3], Luke Brown [3], Toto Thimba Jnr [3], Malcolm Mitchell [3], Trevor Fisher Jnr [3], Kyle McClatchie [3], Rourke van der Spuy [3], Tumelo Molloyi [3], Ruan de Smidt [3]

+1 - Devon Valentine, Jaden Deltel, Slenda Sithebe, Doug McGuigan, Ronald Rugumayo, Marcus Sandile Taylor, Neil Schietekat, Jacques Blaauw, Samuel Simpson, Herman Loubser, Slade Pickering [15], Stals Swart [6], Wade Jacobs [3], Liam Grehan [3], Luke Mayo [3], Thomas Spreadborough [3], Benjamin Van Wyk [3], Luis Carrera [3], Ruan Groenewald [3], Alphius Kelapile [3], Paul Boshoff [3]

+2 - Tyron Davidowitz, Franklin Manchest, Mikkel Antonsen, Luca Filippi, Haydn Porteous, Jacques P de Villiers, Christian Kriek, Keanu Pestana, Xander Basson, Nyasha Muyambo [15], James Pennington [3]

+3 - Leon Vorster, Gerhard Pepler, Makhetha Mazibuko, Jason Broomhead, Otto Van Buynder [6], Lyle Rowe [6]

+4 - Eric Wowor, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Ruan Korb, Allister de Kock, Warwick Purchase [15], Jordan Duminy [6], Umar Davids [6]

+5 - Joe Sullivan

+6 - Tomas Gana, Tyrone Ryan

+7 - Brandon Meads [15], Werner Deyzel [15]

+8 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr