The European Challenge Tour has today announced that the 2024 Road to Mallorca season will begin with four co-sanctioned tournaments with the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
In February 2024, Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour members will compete in the SDC Open, Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open, Dimension Data Pro-Am and NMB Championship.
In 2023 Sunshine Tour professionals made a clean sweep of all four titles in South Africa. Oliver Bekker went on to secure his DP World Tour card following victory in the Dimension Data Pro-Am, while Benjamin Follett-Smith (Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open), JJ Senekal (SDC Open) and Dylan Mostert (NMB Championship) all used their victories to play on the Challenge Tour in search of a DP World Tour card.
Casey Jarvis also built on his strong start to the year in these four tournaments and went on to claim a maiden victory on the Challenge Tour as well as two runners-up finishes that currently puts him within the top five on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and on track to earn his DP World Tour card next season.
In 2024, the Challenge Tour’s South African Swing will tee off with the SDC Open at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa from 1-4 February, followed by the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club from 8-11 February, the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Fancourt from 15-18 February, and the NMB Championship at Humewood Golf Club from 22-25 February.
Jamie Hodges, Challenge Tour Director, said: “We are delighted to further strengthen our relationship with the Sunshine Tour and take the Challenge Tour to South Africa for the fifth consecutive year. South Africa has always been a popular destination for our members and these events provide them with valuable playing opportunities at a time of the year when it is difficult to stage events in Europe.
“We have worked closely with Thomas Abt and his team to develop the global pathway and it has been wonderful to witness the exciting new talent emerge from the Sunshine Tour and earn a place on the DP World Tour through the Challenge Tour.”
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said: “The longstanding partnership between our two tours has been an invaluable step on the global pathway for Sunshine Tour professionals seeking to develop their careers on the international stage.
“It’s a vital opportunity for our members early in the new year to really set themselves up for a strong international season that can allow them to progress onto the DP World Tour, and we’re grateful to our partners at the Challenge Tour for being able to keep strengthening this relationship.
