Johannesburg’s Dylan Naidoo (24) won his maiden Sunshine Tour event, the SunBet Sibaya Challenge, at Umhlali Country Club last week.

Played over three rounds, the event showcased Umhlali CC’s beauty, but also its deceptive difficulty with only 11 of the 44 players who made the cut finishing under par.

Despite a relatively short Par 71 course layout, most of Ballito’s golfing fraternity would agree that Naidoo’s final total of -6 in some windy midweek conditions was a fantastic winning score.

For Naidoo, a widely regarded young talent and member of the Papwa Sewgolum class for previously disadvantaged players, the win had been years in the making.

“This is the culmination of thousands of hours of work and time in front of the whiteboard and mirror. It also entailed many conversations with my parents, asking myself whether I have the game to do this,” said Naidoo.

He led after a blistering first round 66, before a three-over 74 on day two put him firmly in the chasing pack – two shots off Richard Joubert.

But with “the spirit of Papwa” pushing him on, Naidoo gathered himself for finals day in hot, relatively calm conditions. An unblemished front nine with birdies on holes 3 and 4 took him through the turn at -4 and in a tie for the lead.

He added a stunning eagle on hole 10, before bogeys on holes 11 and 15 provided a nervy finishing stretch.

But after hitting it to 15 foot on the 17th, Naidoo made the tricky, big turning putt for birdie to take him three shots clear down Umhlali’s signature Par 3 18th.

“Toto Thimba was the last golfer of colour to win on tour in my rookie year in 2019/20. I hope this means something to young golfers of colour who might not think they have what it takes – I promise, you do,” he said.

“Thank you so much to Umhlali and everyone involved in organising this event, I will always have fond memories of the North Coast.”

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