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Simon du Plooy: Image Credit - Sunshine Tour Images

SOUTH Africa’s Simon du Plooy held his nerve to secure a play-off victory over Daniel Cronje at the Betway Big Easy Tour’s season-opening Blu Label Unlimited Invitational 1, held at Killarney Country Club.

Du Plooy and Cronje finished tied on seven-under-par 200, forcing a play-off which du Plooy won on the first hole of sudden death to get his 2026/27 Betway Big Easy Tour campaign off to a flying start.

Starting the final round on Thursday in third place, one shot behind co-leaders Keegan McLachlan and Max Orgovanyi, du Plooy closed with a one-under-par 68. His final round featured four birdies and three bogeys. He dropped shots at the second and sixth holes on the front nine, before picking up a birdie at the seventh to turn in 36. After the turn, du Plooy made further gains with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 16th holes, before a bogey at the 17th saw him come home in 32. Earlier in the tournament, he had opened with a superb 64 before adding a 68 in the second round. Cronje, meanwhile, posted rounds of 68, 65 and 67, while McLachlan finished third on six-under-par 201 following scores of 70, 61 and 70.

The second event on the schedule, the Betway Big Easy Blu Label Unlimited Invitational 2, is set to take place at Heron Banks Golf and River Estate from April 28 to 30.