The South African Swing concludes in George this week as the NTT DATA Pro Am takes place at Fancourt Golf Estate. Here are three men to keep an eye on…
Form horse: Keenan Davidse
Keenan Davidse arrives at Fancourt Golf Estate in a confident mood having recorded a runner-up finish at last week’s Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor. The South African produced a final round of 67 to climb the leaderboard in the Mother City and finish two shots behind England’s Jamie Rutherford. Davidse catapulted 69 places to fourth position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and in a strong position ahead of the fourth and final co-sanctioned event between the HotelPlanner Tour and Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
Local boy: Oliver Bekker
One man who knows this venue arguably better than anyone else in the field is Oliver Bekker. The South African moved to George in 2020 and became an ambassador of Fancourt Golf Estate, making it his new home course. The 40-year-old used home comforts to his advantage in 2023 as he secured a sensational four-shot victory at the NTT DATA Pro Am with his family watching on. The eight-time Sunshine Tour winner could enter the history books this week by becoming the first man to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am on three separate occasions.
The outsider: Eddie Pepperell
Eddie Pepperell returns to the HotelPlanner Tour having lost his playing privileges on the DP World Tour last season. The Englishman turned professional in 2011 after a glittering amateur career, during which he played in three victorious Jacques Léglise Trophy teams and was part of England’s victory in the European Team Championships. A year later he won the 2012 ALLIANZ Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the HotelPlanner Tour en route to graduation to the DP World Tour and in 2018 he picked up two victories on Golf’s Global Tour. The 34-year-old will be hoping to get off to a good start in his first HotelPlanner Tour appearance of the season and secure a quick return to Golf’s Global Tour.
