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Nedbank Challenge 2023: Course and current form stats

Andy Swales
06 November 2023
3.0 min read

Sun City: Power is a key ingredient on this beast of a course

Sun City: This Gary Player-designed masterpiece was opened 44 years ago

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'Africa's Major' has attracted another strong field for what is the penultimate event on this season's DP World Tour schedule. Words and stats supplied by Andy Swales...

One of professional golf's longest layouts
Fleetwood 8/19.00 chases third victory at Sun City
Rai 28/129.00 ready to claim DP World Tour title No 3

Tournament and Course Notes

• Will be the first of four DP World Tour events staged in South Africa over the next five weeks;

• This Gary Player-designed masterpiece was opened in 1979 and, at over 7,800 yards, is one of the longest layouts in professional golf. Demands accurate ball-striking, as well as power and accuracy;

• All par fours are in excess of 420 yards, every par three is over 210, while the shortest par-five is 547 yards;

• The course, which has been part of the DP World Tour schedule since 2013, was built inside an extinct volcanic crater;

• This parkland venue, which is laid out just over 1,000 feet above sea level, has Kikuyu grass fairways and Bent grass putting surfaces, and was carved out of densely wooded rolling countryside. It has narrow tree-lined fairways and small but quick putting surfaces that are well protected by sand;

• Water comes into play on just five holes and there is a handful of interesting dog-legs too.

Latest betting for this week's Nedbank Challenge

Good Current Form And Strong Course History

Two players who can claim to have both good current form, plus a decent recent history at Sun City, are Ryan Fox 12/113.00 and Aaron Rai 28/129.00.

Fox, winner of this year's Wentworth PGA, was runner-up here 12 months ago and has posted three podium finishes in his last five starts.

Rai, who spends most of his time in the States nowadays, finished second to Fox over the West Course, and tied-ninth in Qatar two weeks ago.

His brace of Sun City appearances have yielded finishes of 8-13.

Germany's Marcel Siem 66/167.00, although an unlikely champion this week, has had two top-six finishes at Sun City from three outings. And, during European Tour events last month, he notched up two top-10s. Perhaps a reasonable e/w shout.

Good Current Form

Among a host of players with solid recent form, are Max Homa 8/19.00, Jordan Smith 25/126.00, Thorbjorn Olesen 25/126.00, Rasmus Hojgaard 33/134.00, Ewen Ferguson 40/141.00 and Daniel Hillier 80/181.00.

World No 8 Homa is the highest-ranked pro taking part and was easily America's leading player at this year's Ryder Cup match in Italy.

Good Course Form

Tommy Fleetwood 8/19.00 tees-up in search of a third straight Sun City title and has played pretty solidly over the past six months.

Joost Luiten 50/151.00 might be another strong e/w bet. His current form is respectable, and his seven outings at Sun City have produced five T20s.

Branden Grace 28/129.00 is a former winner of this tournament, while adding another three top-10s.

However, the South African is competing in his first event since The Open in July.

Meanwhile, Ockie Strydom 400/1401.00 and Louis De Jager 70/171.00 have both enjoyed good Sun City performances in Sunshine Tour events.

De Jager is a two-time runner-up since 2016, while Strydom has had six top-10s during the same period.

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Stroke Averages

Lowest Eight At Sun City (2016-22)
Average .... (Rounds)
70.31: Tommy Fleetwood (16)
70.75: Jason Scrivener (8)
70.85: Branden Grace (20)
71.00: Aaron Rai (8)
71.25: Robert MacIntyre (8)
71.38: Julien Guerrier (8)
71.38: Sebastian Soderberg (8)
71.40: Joost Luiten (20)
Min. No. of Rounds = 8
Only those entered this week are included in table

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

Note: Regarding course form, the 2020 tournament refers to the South African Open, not Nedbank Challenge.

Check out Steve Rawlings Ned Bank Challenge preview here.

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Last 10 Weeks / Sun City Form (2013-22)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W43	W42	W41	W40	W39	W38	W37	W36	W35
Max Homa							7
Tommy Fleetwood				MC			6
Ryan Fox		52		2		MC	1	3
Justin Thomas							5
Justin Rose			57				36
Adrian Meronk		1		MC			28	23	13
Robert MacIntyre	6	26		25		MC	45		55
Aaron Rai	9	21	28			MC	2	39
Jordan Smith	5	34		MC		2	72	12	20
Victor Perez		9	28	MC		MC	MC		MC
Vincent Norrman		38	MC				18	1
Pablo Larrazabal	16	MC	20				76	39	MC
Alexander Bjork	MC	MC				MC	18	MC	2
Nicolai Hojgaard		31	56				64		5
Matt Wallace	9	68	28	6			57	61	24
Ryo Hisatsune	21	6	45			1	MC	MC	13
Thorbjorn Olesen	9	9	17	Wd		10	33	45	40
Rasmus Hojgaard	16	26		25		4	45	MC	MC
Adrian Otaegui	MC	9	28			16	36	45	55
Thriston Lawrence	36	34	41	54		35	MC	3	47
Yannik Paul	27		MC	14		6	45	45	20
Matthieu Pavon	47	9	1	6		MC	MC	81	45
Sami Valimaki	1	MC	41	6			74	23	MC
Jorge Campillo	2	19	62	MC		41	28	33	40
Joost Luiten		MC	20	Wd			14	12	5
Nathan Kimsey		MC	3	44		14	28	MC	57
Ewen Ferguson	16	13	9	54		10	MC	54	MC
Romain Langasque	MC	MC	9	MC			14	23	32
Callum Shinkwin	MC	63		44		51	7	61
Antoine Rozner	27		35	10		MC	MC	MC	24
Daniel Hillier	16	19	9			MC	Wd	12	63
Connor Syme		26	MC	37		MC	10	7	3
Richie Ramsay	36	19	57			20	28	61	MC
Grant Forrest		MC	41	10		MC	MC	3
Marcel Siem	MC	7	4			MC	MC	16	71
Sebastian Soderberg	47	19	41	5			64	54	24
Matthew Southgate	MC	46		2		20	Wd	23	MC
Julien Guerrier		MC	6	MC		MC	Wd	39
Hurly Long		MC					69	2	MC
Tom McKibbin	9	34	MC	14		MC	51	39	32
Zander Lombard	27	46	2	54		10	69	85	40
Shubhankar Sharma		MC	35	MC			36	7	MC
Richard Mansell	MC	3	6	MC		28	MC	54	MC
Jens Dantorp	MC	56		MC		28	MC	45	MC
Maximilian Kieffer	MC	MC	MC	54		MC	MC	MC
Todd Clements	63	MC	35	MC			MC	72	68
Matthew Jordan	MC	13	47	54		MC	51	MC
Calum Hill		MC	47	25		10	51	23	51
Marcus Helligkilde		39	9	37			25	70	13
Sean Crocker	9	43	20	44		Wd	MC	MC
Hennie Du Plessis	54	MC	MC	14		51	10	54	47
Francesco Molinari		63					MC
Jeff Winther	44	6	MC	10		2	MC	MC	MC
Daniel Brown		39	57	MC		41	51	83
Nick Bachem	MC	13	MC	25		20	MC	7	MC
Julien Brun		MC	28	Wd		6	35	16
Ockie Strydom	MC	MC	MC				MC	MC	MC
Marcus Armitage	MC	13	MC	2		MC	MC	MC	MC
Dale Whitnell		MC	MC	Wd		MC	Wd	MC	MC
Dan Bradbury		13	6	MC		MC	51	MC	MC
Louis De Jager	MC	4	41	MC		35	36	61
Matthew Baldwin	56	52	71	Wd		35	28	72
Jason Scrivener	9	59	20	Wd			25	54	36
Simon Forsstrom	66	MC	MC	Wd		41	MC	83	68
Aaron Cockerill	47	MC	41	Wd			61	72	63
Nacho Elvira	3	46	MC	22		MC	MC	23	MC
Niklas Norgaard Moller	MC	MC	MC	37			MC	45	36
Daniel Gavins	Wd	65	MC	Wd		Wd	Wd	MC	MC
Masahiro Kawamura			MC	MC		MC	45	MC	8
Branden Grace
Rikuya Hoshino	36	26	Wd		2	MC	25	7	MC
Scott Jamieson	3	MC	MC	MC			79	45	32
Adri Arnaus	MC	19	64	14			61	MC	61
Santiago Tarrio	6	MC	28	54		28	57	90	MC
Kalle Samooja	21	MC	9	54			74	MC	20
Alejandro Del Rey	27	MC	17	25		66		33	MC

Player	`22	`20	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13
Max Homa
Tommy Fleetwood	1		1		10	14	21	14
Ryan Fox	2		57	50	52
Justin Thomas
Justin Rose									7
Adrian Meronk	36	MC
Robert MacIntyre	32		8
Aaron Rai			13	8
Jordan Smith	13		48	21	Wd
Victor Perez	44
Vincent Norrman
Pablo Larrazabal	63	35	48	27	60	39		16
Alexander Bjork				57	52
Nicolai Hojgaard	55	67
Matt Wallace			44	5	34
Ryo Hisatsune
Thorbjorn Olesen	44				12	63
Rasmus Hojgaard	8
Adrian Otaegui	19			16	60	55
Thriston Lawrence	13	Dq
Yannik Paul	25
Matthieu Pavon	41	58		60	19
Sami Valimaki
Jorge Campillo	32		13	46	27	67
Joost Luiten		11	10	27	12	14		24	16
Nathan Kimsey
Ewen Ferguson	13
Romain Langasque	29		30
Callum Shinkwin	64				29
Antoine Rozner	32
Daniel Hillier
Connor Syme	49	10
Richie Ramsay	4		42		19	25
Grant Forrest
Marcel Siem		6				39		4
Sebastian Soderberg	5		30
Matthew Southgate	58		52	69		39
Julien Guerrier		9		41
Hurly Long	52
Tom McKibbin
Zander Lombard	64	MC	8
Shubhankar Sharma	3	55	56	27
Richard Mansell	56
Jens Dantorp				46
Maximilian Kieffer	8			60
Todd Clements
Matthew Jordan	44
Calum Hill		14
Marcus Helligkilde
Sean Crocker	36
Hennie Du Plessis		6
Francesco Molinari					27				12
Jeff Winther
Daniel Brown
Nick Bachem
Julien Brun
Ockie Strydom		66
Marcus Armitage	41
Dale Whitnell	36	MC
Dan Bradbury
Louis De Jager		14
Matthew Baldwin
Jason Scrivener			3	16
Simon Forsstrom
Aaron Cockerill		18
Nacho Elvira		MC	13	54	29	25
Niklas Norgaard Moller
Daniel Gavins
Masahiro Kawamura			59
Branden Grace	8		39	11	1	3	4		20
Rikuya Hoshino
Scott Jamieson	13	32	44		2
Adri Arnaus	61		30
Santiago Tarrio
Kalle Samooja	58		10
Alejandro Del Rey

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Nedbank Challenge 2023: Course and current form stats

One of professional golf's longest layouts

Fleetwood 8/19.00 chases third victory at Sun City

Rai 28/129.00 ready to claim DP World Tour title No 3

Tournament and Course Notes

Latest betting for this week's Nedbank Challenge

Good Current Form And Strong Course History

Good Current Form

Good Course Form

Betfair Sportsbook

Stroke Averages

Check out Steve Rawlings Ned Bank Challenge preview here.

Last 10 Weeks / Sun City Form (2013-22)

Position

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One of professional golf's longest layouts

Fleetwood 8/19.00 chases third victory at Sun City

Rai 28/129.00 ready to claim DP World Tour title No 3

Tournament and Course Notes

Latest betting for this week's Nedbank Challenge

Good Current Form And Strong Course History

Good Current Form

Good Course Form

Betfair Sportsbook

Stroke Averages

Check out Steve Rawlings Ned Bank Challenge preview here.

New customers can get £20 in free bets!

Last 10 Weeks / Sun City Form (2013-22)

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The Punter's In-Play Blog: Jarvis shows the way at Leopard Creek

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