GOLF CHALLENGE

ON THE RISE

THE 2018 NEDBANK Golf Challenge was officially the most successful edition of the tournament since it became part of the European Tour as a Rolex Series event, one of eight premium tournaments on the Race to Dubai.

The attendance figures of this year’s tournament, played at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from November 8-11, broke all previous attendance records.

The overall attendance of the event saw an increase of 10 percent on the previous best to more than 72 000 fans this year. The weekend in particular saw 20 000 fans stream in on each of the days.

This year’s field included major drawcards such as Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia as well as a strong South African contingent in defending champion Branden Grace and Major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.

Englishman Lee Westwood claimed the title by three strokes, becoming the first European golfer to win “Africa’s Major” three times.

There was also the induction of former South African professional and now well-known television commentator Dale Hayes into the South African Hall of Fame.

But the overwhelming response from South African golf fans this year has confirmed the NGC’s status as one of the leading sports events in South Africa, and undoubtedly a premium event on the European Tour schedule as the penultimate tournament on the seasonlong Race to Dubai.

“The Nedbank Golf Challenge remains one of South Africa’s flagship sporting events and we are extremely proud to have delivered yet another successful tournament together,” said Sun International chief executive Anthony Leeming.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “The Nedbank Golf Challenge continues to flourish, going from strength to strength each year, and I am extremely pleased that we have delivered another fantastic tournament.”