Lombard leads SA Didata challenge

Zander Lombard forms part of a strong group of in-form SA professionals who will seek to end the European dominance of the current Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tour Swing when the prestigious Dimension Data Pro-Am tees off at Fancourt on Thursday.

The first two tournaments of this co-sanctioned stretch were won by Welshman Rhys Enoch and Swede Mikael Lindberg.

It’s in stark contrast with last season’s Swing, where Southern Africans dominated with wins in all four co-sanctioned events. But the return of Lombard, Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper from DP World Tour action has certainly strengthened the SA challenge this week.

Lombard has been in sublime form in 2024. He is fifth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and at a career high of 100 on the official world golf rankings.

Since 2023’s Joburg Open, Lombard has finished in the top 16 in seven of his past eight tournaments. Both Schaper and Jarvis have also been solid on the DP World Tour this season.

Jarvis led the first round of the 2023 Dimension Data ProAm with an impressive 64. And Ryan van Velzen drove into Fancourt with finishes of seventh and a playoff defeat in his past two tournaments on this Swing as he holds on to third place on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

Oliver Bekker is also back to defend his title and is seeking to make Dimension Data Pro-Am history by becoming the first three-time winner. Bekker, Darren Fichardt and Nick Price are the only golfers to have won this title twice since it first teed off in 1996.

The 72-hole tournament is played on Fancourt’s three golf courses of The Montagu, The Outeniqua and The Links.