Johannesburg – South African Jaco Ahlers has claimed the 30th and final spot in the field for this week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge with his victory in the Lion of Africa Cape Town Open on Sunday.
Ahlers won the Sunshine Tour event at Royal Cape Golf Club in a sudden-death playoff with Ross McGowan and Hennie Otto, all of whom were vying to join the exclusive field gathered for “Africa’s Major” at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City from December 4 - 7.
This is the second victory of Ahlers’s professional career and by far the biggest, securing him a place in one of the most exclusive fields in world golf.
There are now seven South Africans in the field of 30, one of the largest representations from this country in the history of the tournament.
Ahlers joins countrymen Charl Schwartzel, Dawie van der Walt, Danie van Tonder, Louis Oosthuizen, George Coetzee and Tim Clark.
The 32-year-old also finds himself in the illustrious company of three Major winners, three former world number ones, five European Ryder Cup players and three past champions of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
Confirmed players for Nedbank Golf Challenge
Thomas Bjørn (Denmark), Martin Kaymer (Germany), Lee Westwood (England), Charl Schwartzel (South Africa), Jamie Donaldson (Wales), Stephen Gallacher (Scotland), Dawie van der Walt (South Africa), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Luke Donald (England), Miguel Angel Jiminez (Spain), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Ross Fisher (England), Kevin Na (US), Tim Clark (South Africa), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Marcel Siem (Germany), Joost Luiten (Netherlands), Brooks Koepka (US), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Marc Warren (Scotland), George Coetzee (South Africa), Tommy Fleetwood (England), Danny Willett (England), Alexander Lévy (France), Danie van Tonder (South Africa), Mikko Ilonen (Finland), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Jonas Blixt (Sweden), Brendon Todd (US), Jaco Ahlers (South Africa) – Sapa