Having just returned from the DP World Tour and on his way back home to Zimbabwe, Benjamin Follett-Smith decided to make a detour to Houghton Golf Club for this week’s Fortress Invitational – and he was rewarded with an opening 63 for the lead on Thursday.
“I just thought I would come play here on my way home, as I’m going home for two weeks now to build some confidence before I go back for the DP World Tour Qualifying School. Knowing the course from previous tournaments, it was nice coming back here,” Follett-Smith said after his bogey-free round of eight under.
Follett-Smith leads the trio of Jonathan Broomhead, Daniel van Tonder and Stals Swart by three shots. Van Tonder, in particular, is a serious challenge on this golf course. He finished tied sixth in the Joburg Open here in March this year.
Follett-Smith enjoyed a strong start to his first round, with two eagles in his opening five holes.
“I had a really nice start, and staying patient was the key part. The eagle on the third hole got my round going. Tee to green my game has been good for a while now and today it definitely paid off. I was aggressive off the tee, relying on my long game. It was nice to get a low round in.”
The four-time winner across both the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour has relished being back on home fairways again this week.
“It’s my first start for the 2026/2027 season on the Sunshine Tour. For the last two years I’ve been playing most of my golf in Europe. I love supporting the Sunshine Tour. This is where I started my career and I will always come back and support the Tour as they do so much for us golfers. It’s close to home for me being from Zimbabwe and nice to have world-class tournaments and world-class competitiveness on the Sunshine Tour,” Follet-Smith said.
With an impressive lead after the first round, Follett-Smith is looking forward to the next three rounds.
“It’s nice to lead after the first day as it gives you a chance for a wire-to-wire finish, and I’ll take that opportunity every day. It also takes a bit of pressure off for the cut and puts me in a position to play a patience game, with less need to put pressure on myself to push harder. It’s a great start and something to build off.”
63 – Benjamin Follett-Smith
66 – Jonathan Broomhead
66 – Daniel van Tonder, Stals Swart
67 – Haydn Porteous
67 – Lyle Rowe, Luke Brown
68 – Dylan Mostert
68 – Robson Chinhoi, Shaheed Patel, Jaco Van Zyl, Graham van der Merwe
69 – James Mack
69 – Ricky Hendler, Estiaan Conradie, George Coetzee, Ryan van der Klis, Tyran Snyders, Adam Breen, Warwick Purchase, Altin van der Merwe, Matt Millar
70 – Jason Roets
70 – Trevor Fisher Jnr, Simon du Plooy, Allen John, Rigardt Albertse, Benjamin Kedochim, Jaco Prinsloo, Austin Bautista, Keagan Thomas
71 – Anthony Michael
71 – Jbe’ Kruger, Franklin Manchest, Cole Stevens, Kyle Barker, Jacques Blaauw, Christiaan Burke, Rhys Enoch, Toto Thimba Jnr, Jacques P de Villiers, Eric Wowor, Malcolm Mitchell, Luis Carrera, Nikhil Rama, Martin Rohwer, Rowan Lester, Pierre Viallaneix, Morris Schiefner, Musiwalo Nethunzwi
72 – Daniel Cronje
72 – Charl Barnard, Hennie O’Kennedy, Ulrich van den Berg, Carter Rowe, Albert Venter, Tristen Strydom, Agustin Errazuriz, JJ Senekal, Pierre Pellegrin, Gabriel Morgan, Sentanio Minnie
73 – Brandon-Jude Rennie
73 – Conner Mackenzie, Neil Schietekat, Tyrone Ryan, Luke Jerling, Zander Lombard, Justin Walters, Jordan Burnand, Judd Sundelson, Tristin Galant, Keelan Africa, Otto Van Buynder, Stephen Ferreira, Ethan Smith, Jacquin Hess, Stuart Krog, Carlos Bustos, Thabiso Ngcobo, Liam Grehan, Joe Sullivan
74 – Stefan Wears-Taylor
74 – Jean-Paul Strydom, Samuel Simpson, Tristan Leonard, Travis Ladner, Steven Le Roux, Rupert Kaminski, Quintin Wilsnach, Allister de Kock, Dillon Germshuys, Makhetha Mazibuko
75 – Rhys West
75 – Jaco Ahlers, Kian Rose, Jaden Deltel, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa, Ruan Korb, Jacques Van der Merwe, Martin Leon, Tomas Gana, Benjamin Van Wyk, Gerhard Pepler, Oliver Goldhill, Zachary Chegwidden
76 – Tumelo Molloyi
76 – Ruan de Smidt, Njoroge Kibugu, Keenan Davidse, Lyle Pedro, Daniel Smith, Corey Sheppard, Mandla Dlamini Jnr, Wynand Dingle, Kyle De Beer, Doug McGuigan, Callum Bruce
77 – Kael Strydom
77 – Dian Kruger, Keanu Pestana, Vuyisani Makama, Xander Basson, Herman Loubser, Dayne Moore, Jean-Pierre Van der Watt
78 – Keegan Mclachlan
78 – Karabo Mokoena, Matthew Spacey, Shaunak Rama, Brandon Pieters, Hayden Griffiths, Thomas Spreadborough
79 – Nyasha Muyambo
79 – Lwazi Gqira
80 – Travis Procter
81 – Shaahid Mahmed
82 – Mitch Phigeland
83 – Jordan Duminy
84 – Austin Mabaso
RTD – Shaydon Johnson
Article Link: Follett-Smith changes route to lead at Houghton