Domination by South African Wilco Nienaber in the NTT Data Pro Am, who won with a 262 (60 66 66 70, -27) leaving his compatriot Jean-Paul Strydom, second with 269 (-20), seven shots behind.
The fourth consecutive seasonal tournament in South Africa, also organized in collaboration by HotelPlanner Tour (formerly Challenge Tour) and Sunshine Tour, was played with a pro am formula (one pro, one amateur) at the Fancourt Golf Estate in George, where the competitors alternated in the first three rounds on the Montagu Course (par 72), the Outeniqua Course (par 72) and The Links Course (par 73), designed by the great champion Gary Player, then the 71s that passed the cut concluded the competition on the Montagu Course.
Challenge, results
Good overall performance by the five Italians, who all went to the money, the best of whom was Gregorio De Leo, 12th with 274 (67 69 69 69, -15), at his first appearance of the year on the Challenge Tour, after having participated in two events of the DP World Tour, for which he took the ‘card’ at the Qualifying School (13th). In the middle of the rankings were Stefano Mazzoli, 30th with 278 (-11), and Filippo Celli, 32nd with 279 (-10), and further back Aron Zemmer, 50th with 281 (-8), and Renato Paratore, 58th with 282 (-7).
Nienaber, 24 years old from Bloemfontein, signed the second title that is worth him for both circuits. The previous one, dated 2021, was obtained in the same tournament, which was then called Dimension Data Pro Am, but in reality the sponsor was the same as the current one that changed its name to NTT Data in 2024. He led the way and led the fourth round in absolute tranquility with a 70 (-2, two birdies without bogey) leaving the others only the possibility of competing for the second place conquered in extremis by Strydom.
In third place with 271 (-18) the other home player Jacques Blaauw, the New Zealander Sam Jones and the Swede Per Langfors and in sixth with 272 (-17) the English Eddie Pepperell and Jamie Rutherford and the South African JC Ritchie.
The winner received a cheque for 57,473 euros on a prize pool of around 365,000 euros (7,000,000 rand the official figure).
De Leo, who finished with a third consecutive 69 (-3, four birdies, one bogey), will return to the DP World Tour next week where the Magical Kenya Open is scheduled (February 20-23, Muthaiga CC, Nairobi) which will also feature Guido Migliozzi (who won it in 2019), Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore.
Tennis World USA