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Schalk Van Ettinger with the Nedbank Junior Challenge trophy

SCHALK Van Ettinger produced a brilliant performance to secure a wire-to-wire, two-stroke victory at the 2025 edition of the prestigious Nedbank Junior Challenge, held at the iconic Gary Player Country Club at Sun City Resort in North West, South Africa, on Wednesday.

At just 15 years old, Van Ettinger became the second-youngest winner of one of South Africa’s premier golf development tournaments, following Bryan Newman in 2023, who also triumphed at the age of 15. Van Ettinger also earned the opportunity to join golfing royalty at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, scheduled for December 4-7.

Van Ettinger carded a four-over-par 220 after 54 holes of golf at the home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, having led the tournament from start to finish. He opened with a one-under-par 71 on Monday. His flawless opening round, which earned him a two-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard, featured a single birdie on the seventh hole, with level-par played across the rest. Following that impressive start, Van Ettinger posted a two-over-par 74 on Tuesday’s moving day, bringing him to one-over-par 145 after 36 holes. His second round included three birdies and four bogeys. On Wednesday, Van Ettinger closed with a three-over-par 75, enough to edge out Cilliers Craig, who also shot 75 in the final round and finished two strokes behind on six-over-par 222. Craig recorded rounds of 74, 73 and 75, while Johndre Ludick completed the podium in third place on a seven-over-par 223, after rounds of 79, 73 and a closing 71.

This year marked the fifth edition of the Nedbank Junior Challenge since its inception in 2021. Yurav Premlall won the inaugural tournament, followed by Stefan Jacobs in 2022. Newman claimed the 2023 title, with Vian Jansen van Vuuren winning in 2024.