Nedbank Junior Open Championship
Brandon Moyo
THE stage is set for what promises to be yet another enthralling edition of the Nedbank Junior Challenge with this year’s event scheduled to take place at the iconic Gary Player Country Club at Sun City Resort, South Africa.
This premier junior tournament on the GolfRSA calendar, played at the home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, will feature the country’s elite junior amateur golfers and the rising stars of the South African Golf Development Board in a 72-hole competition offering both GolfRSA and World Amateur Golf Ranking points. Since its launch in 2021, the Nedbank Junior Challenge has carved out its place as the premier stage for South Africa’s rising golf stars. This prestigious invitational gives top junior players a rare opportunity to compete where legends have walked, and to showcase their talent on a course known for hosting one of golf’s most elite events - the Nedbank Golf Challenge. This year’s edition is the fifth since its inception in 2021. Yurav Premlall won the maiden event and has since turned professional, playing on the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour. Aldrich Potgieter, who was the runner up in 2022 has also turned pro, finishing second at Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2024 and winning Rocket Classic 2025 at Detroit Golf Club. The 2022 edition was won by Stefan Jacobs who has started college golf in the US and started off his stint as a freshman at Augusta University in America by shooting an impressive level-par 72 off the daunting pro tees at Augusta National.
Brian Newman, still at school won the prestigious championship in 2023 and is presently playing at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Last year’s championship was won by Vian Jansen van Vuuren who has gone on to play college golf in the US this year. With all the past winners going on to carve their golfing careers positively, this year’s championship promises to be yet another entertaining event.
