Staff WriterIf there’s one thing the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions does well, it’s serving up drama with a side of diversity—and Thursday’s opening round at Royal Johannesburg’s East Course didn’t disappoint.
George Coetzee and MJ Viljoen each fired five-under-par 67s to share the top spot on a leaderboard as eclectic as the tournament itself.
From seasoned pros to rising stars, and with amateurs, women’s champions, and standout talents from the South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA) all in the mix, this year’s Waterfall City showcase proves again that South African golf isn’t just growing—it’s thriving across every corner of the game.
Viljoen came out swinging, clearly building on his third-place finish at the season-opening FBC Zim Open two weeks ago. Seven birdies and a couple of bogeys later, he was the man to beat in the clubhouse. “You try to carry momentum week to week,” he said recently, and carry it he did—right to the top of the board.
Not to be outdone, Coetzee—who’s been rebuilding his form and confidence since a stint on the injury list—matched Viljoen with a composed 67 of his own. The man with 15 Sunshine Tour wins to his name dropped just one shot all day, a quiet reminder that experience still counts for something.
Two shots behind the leading duo is Jacques Blaauw, who carded a tidy 69. Just another reminder that in this field, no lead is ever safe.
And speaking of heat, Mexico’s Luis Carrera is keeping his own fire lit. Having already won the first two events of the season, the current Courier Guy Order of Merit leader sits in a four-way tie at two-under.
Last season’s Order of Merit winner, Daniel van Tonder, matched that score with a 70, while reigning champion Louis Albertse opened with a one-under-par 71—a steady start but hardly safe ground with this pack chasing.
Meanwhile, eSwatini’s Nobuhle Dlamini, flying the flag for the Sunshine Ladies Tour, posted a respectable 73 to sit in joint 17th. Given the calibre of competition and the unpredictability of Royal Jozi’s East Course, that’s far from out of the running.
There’s still plenty of golf left to play, but Day One of the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions has already made one thing clear: it’s going to be a proper scrap for the silverware—and no one’s backing down.
And really, would we want it any other way?
