The 2022 Road to Mallorca kick-started with six co-sanctioned events between the European Challenge Tour and Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
Dimension Data Pro-Am
A strong field entered the season opening Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate, including two-time U.S.
Open Champion Retief Goosen. The South African won the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2004 and has also won the DP World Tour Order of Merit on two occasions. Germany’s Alexander Knappe secured his first win for over five years by posting four bogey-free rounds at the Dimension Data Pro-Am.
The three-time Challenge Tour winner birdied the 72nd hole to finish one-stroke victory ahead of two-time DP World Tour winner Dean Burmester on 23 under par. Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open JC Ritchie successfully defended his Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open title after holing a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory at Royal Cape Golf Club.
The South African posted a final day four under par round of 68 to reach 18 under par, one clear of Belgium’s Christopher Mivis, who raced through the field on the final day to set the target at 17 under par. Jonsson Workwear Open Ritchie made it back-to-back wins on the Challenge Tour after he secured a wire-to-wire six-shot victory at the Jonsson Workwear Open and subsequently moved to Number One on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
The ten-time Sunshine Tour winner got off to a special start in Durban after he carded a course-record nine under par opening round of 61 on his 28th Birthday, which included a hole in one at the par three second hole. Mangaung Open Oliver Hundebøll secured a dramatic maiden Challenge Tour victory at the Mangaung Open after he carded a six under par final round 66 to reach 21 under par.
The Dane entered round four five shots off the pace but carded seven birdies and just one bogey to record a one-shot victory in Bloemfontein. Jbe Kruger carded a course record 61 in round three at Bloemfontein Golf Club, his local course, and the South African eventually finished in a tie for sixth place.
SDC Open Clément Sordet secured his fifth Challenge Tour title at the SDC Open after defeating South African Ruan Conradie in a play-off. Sordet birdied the first extra hole to defeat home favourite Conradie, who could only make par, and secure his first victory since the 2017 NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, a year in which he finished second on the Challenge Tour Rankings behind Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen.
Limpopo Championship Mateusz Gradecki claimed a maiden Challenge Tour victory in dramatic style at the Limpopo Championship, becoming only the second Challenge Tour winner to hail from Poland after Adrian Meronk. The 27-year-old entered the final round five-strokes behind Hundebøll but carded a brilliant bogey-free six under par round of 66 at Euphoria Golf Club to reach a 19 under par total and finish three shots ahead of South African Hennie du Plessis.
