Ryan van Velzen will make his debut in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City from 5-8 December as the face of a new generation of young South African professionals seeking to make their mark in ‘Africa’s Major’.
Van Velzen secured his place in a stellar international field for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, in honour of Gary Player, thanks to a groundbreaking performance on the Sunshine Tour last season which saw him crowned the winner of the overall Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy.
The 22-year-old will join compatriots Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen as well as defending champion Max Homa from America amongst the early stars announced for this year’s tournament, in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International.
The $6-million tournament is part of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing, which will be the first of five Global Swings on the 2025 Race to Dubai.
“It’s a privilege to have qualified to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and to be there with the best players in the world,” said Van Velzen. “I’ve been to the Nedbank Golf Challenge a few times with my dad and friends and I watched Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood win it.”
The rising star of South African golf is already a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and has earned himself a DP World Tour card for the 2025 season. This year he also made his Major debut in the PGA Championship and The Open.
“Winning the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit last season was amazing,” said Van Velzen. “I mean, to win against some of the top players in the country and to perform at that level for such a long season is a great achievement. It just gave me a sense of belonging and confidence.”
Over the years the Nedbank Golf Challenge has rewarded several of South Africa’s promising professionals with a place in the field thanks to their finishes of first on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, including Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Zander Lombard, Thriston Lawrence, George Coetzee and Ockie Strydom.
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