Staff WriterAt Nkana Golf Club today, Samuel Simpson proved that sometimes the best round you can play is the one without any red ink.
His three-under-par 69 was as clean as you could hope for—a bogey-free final round that earned the young South African his first Sunshine Tour title and ended Herman Loubser’s week-long reign at the top.
A Battle of Nerves and Patience
Loubser had looked unflappable for three days, leading since round one and showing the sort of calm that wins golf tournaments.
But Sunday’s final round was a different beast entirely. Three bogeys and a double bogey turned what had been a commanding lead into a tightrope walk, and when he bogeyed the 18th, Simpson was there to pounce.
Simpson started the day five shots back—a gap that would make most men think about settling for second. But the 24-year-old never blinked.
“Steady as she goes” was the motto, and it paid off. No mistakes, just the sort of tidy 69 that lets someone else’s nerves do the work for you.
A Field that Didn’t Quit
Luke Jerling, JJ Senekal, and Lyle Rowe all finished at nine under par, tied for third and giving the leaderboard a bit of depth. And make no mistake—today was all about Simpson’s composure and Loubser’s slip.
Through 17 holes, the two men were still tied at 11 under par, a testament to Loubser’s stubborn refusal to let go even as his game began to waver.
Golf is a game of small margins, and the final hole proved just that—Simpson’s par was good enough to outlast Loubser’s final stumble.
A Maiden Title Worth the Wait
Simpson joins Mexico’s Luis Carrera as the second maiden winner on the Sunshine Tour this season, a fact that will taste particularly sweet given the way he had to claw it back.
Winning your first is never easy, but doing it by letting your playing partner come undone? That’s the sort of win that can launch a career.
The Verdict? Watch This Space
So, is it worth following Simpson from here? Absolutely. The way he handled himself down the stretch today showed the sort of patience and poise that separates the hopeful from the promising.
And as for Loubser? Don’t count him out. There’s nothing like a final-round heartbreak to fuel the next chapter.
