Staff WriterIf the great Gary Player taught us anything—apart from how to travel with less luggage than a hermit crab—it’s that success is a cocktail of grit, gratitude, and a glint in the eye when the wind picks up.
Well, young Samuel Simpson’s got all three shaking in the mixer, and after a second straight round in the mid-60s, he’s served up a leader’s advantage heading into Friday’s finale at the Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge.
Simpson, who looks like he still gets carded at the 19th hole, backed up his opening 65 with a 66 that was equal parts clinical and composed.
At 13-under-par overall, he leads this Sunshine Tour soirée at Benoni Country Club, two clear of Malcolm Mitchell—who matched him shot for shot with another 66—and three ahead of the three-headed chasing pack of Martin Vorster, Jonathan Broomhead and Jason Roets.
A Course with Quirks and a Wind with Teeth
Benoni CC, a classic slice of tree-lined tenacity, isn’t the longest dancefloor on the Tour, but she’s as fussy as a debutante with a sore toe.
Designed to reward discipline and penalise anything lazier than a half-warm putting stroke, the course played firm under South Africa’s spring sunshine. Greens quickened, nerves tightened, and fairways demanded respect like a bouncer outside Sun City’s casino.
And yet, Simpson seemed unbothered. After a stumble on the second—a bogey that might’ve rattled a lesser spine—he went on a tear: five birdies in seven holes, then calmly sprinkled two more on the back nine for good measure.
“We started off early and I had a shaky start, but that happens,” Simpson said. “Then I hit a great shot on the third which settled my nerves.”
Settle them it did. That third hole was the ignition switch. What followed was a masterclass in patience and execution—he stuck to his pre-tournament gameplan like Velcro on corduroy.
From Amateur Honour Roll to Professional Footing
Simpson isn’t new to the podium—in his amateur days, he collected accolades like Gary Player collects air miles—but the leap to the paid ranks has taken some recalibrating.
Last year, he finished a workmanlike 64th on the Courier Guy Order of Merit. Respectable, but not quite headline-grabbing.
Then came the decision not to return home to Cape Town during the off-season. Instead, he stayed in Johannesburg, sharpening the weapon between his ears.
“I stayed in Joburg and got myself mentally ready for the new season. That’s the biggest thing for me – mental confidence equals good golf,” Simpson said. “Coming into the first events of this season, I’ve prepared myself to succeed.”
That’s the kind of quote that makes you want to clean your clubs and try again tomorrow.
Club Choices & Playing Smarts
Simpson’s strategy around Benoni was clearly built for attrition, not theatrics. No brute-forced drives into oblivion. No Brysonian gambles. Just smart ball flights, tight iron work, and a putter that kissed lips instead of burning them. If you’re into the analytics: strokes gained? Let’s just say he gained strokes and believers.
Malcolm Mitchell, meanwhile, is lurking like a hawk in a headwind—his second 66 proves he’s not just here for the lamb chops and Pro-V1s. But he’ll need more than steady if Simpson keeps driving it like he’s been fitted by Ben Hogan’s ghost.
A Tribute, A Test, and a Tune-In
Let’s not forget, this isn’t just another trophy-chase—it’s a tribute to one of the game’s all-time greats. Gary Player, the Black Knight himself, didn’t just win tournaments. He wore down courses, opponents and occasionally his own caddies with relentless positivity and punishing consistency.
Simpson’s got a bit of that look—a lad who knows where he’s going, even if the wind says otherwise.
And he’s not getting carried away with the lead, either.
“The final round is out of my hands. I can’t control what anybody else does. All I can control is myself. My strategy won’t change. I’m going to go out and do my best,” said Simpson.
It’s almost frighteningly sensible. The kind of quote that belongs in a locker room, not a TikTok reel.
Fan Buzz & Friday Forecast
The gallery, while modest, was vocal. A few calls of “Go Sammie!” echoed down the fairways—likely from friends who remember him teeing off with a junior set not long ago.
As for Friday? Expect fireworks—but from the kindling of calm minds and steady hands, not chaos.
And if you’re shopping for strategy this week, Simpson’s mental game is one you can clutch in your bag.
Just don’t expect him to spray it like a weekend slicer. That boy’s come to play.
