Staff WriterAt the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions, the only thing tighter than the leaderboard is the stitching on a tour pro’s polo shirt after three days of buffet breakfasts.
As the sun sets over Royal Johannesburg, Mexico’s Luis Carrera finds himself in a four-way knot at the top, just a weekend’s walk from a third straight Sunshine Tour title—and possibly a statue in the clubhouse foyer.
Carrera, who seems to have discovered the cheat codes to southern hemisphere golf this season, carded a measured 67 on the East Course—a notoriously mischievous stretch of turf known for humbling even the cockiest wedge wrangler.
Now sitting at seven under par, he shares the lead with South African trio Jonathan Broomhead, Pieter Moolman and George Coetzee, each with their own ambitions and anxieties heading into the weekend.
“I’m taking it day by day,” Carrera said, giving a calm nod to the golfing gods. “My strategy will stay the same for the weekend.”
And why would he change it? The man has steamrolled through the Sunshine Tour’s early schedule like a man late for his tee time, bagging wins at the FBC Zim Open and the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am—not to mention starting the season by conquering Q School in April.
It’s his first dance at the Waterfall City Tournament, and he’s clearly enjoying the tempo. “I think this is a great golf course.
It’s very challenging. You hit a lot of good mid irons,” Carrera mused, clearly unfazed by the layout that’s made mincemeat of many. “It’s a great competition with all the winners here and there are great names here.”
Speaking of great names, Jonathan Broomhead bounced back like a caffeinated kangaroo after a bruising opening round.
A sizzling 65 has him level with the leaders and in prime position to correct the near-miss that haunted him just a week ago at the Kit Kat event.
“I found it extremely tough in the first round,” Broomhead admitted. “Today I started well and made four in a row in the middle of the round. I hit the ball well and made some good putts.” That’s golf-speak for I felt like a god for nine holes.
Broomhead also tipped his cap to the unique format of the Waterfall City Tournament.
Played over a composite nine-hole loop—twice per round—it’s a layout that messes with your memory just enough to keep things interesting.
“It’s a cool tournament this,” he said. “It forces you to really concentrate because when you play the nine again you can make the mistake of thinking ‘I’ve done this.’ So you have to focus.”
Just a stroke back lurk Daniel van Tonder and MJ Viljoen, two players who know their way around a final-round shootout. You’d be brave—or mad—to count either of them out.
And let’s not forget the leading lady of the leaderboard. Nadia van der Westhuizen is flying the Sunshine Ladies Tour flag proudly, sitting at one under after a spirited 69 on Friday. Quietly effective, but certainly not overlooked.
So as the Waterfall City Tournament heads into its decisive stages, the script is far from written.
What we do know is this: Carrera is the man to catch, and if someone doesn’t grab him soon, we may all need to learn the words to the Mexican national anthem.
