Reigning Africa Amateur champion Jack Buchanan opened with a one-under-par 69 to lead the six-strong amateur challenge in the 115th Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club; credit GolfRSA.
STELLENBOSCH, 26 February 2026 โ Recent Africa Amateur champion Jack Buchanan set the pace among the six amateurs in the opening round of the Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club, grinding out a hard-earned one-under-par 69.
As it is for all six amateurs in the field, it was as much a wonderful experience as it was a tough lesson in the rigours of professional tournament golf, and Buchanan was pleased to finish under par.
โIt was my first round in a professional tournament, and it was definitely nice to finish in red numbers considering how tough it got out there,โ said the University of Southern California sophomore.
His 69 stacked up very well on the leaderboard, putting him in a share of 28th, just four strokes off a four-way share of the lead, which was held at four-under-par by 2023 SA Open champion Dean Burmester, Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey, Joe Dean from England and Finn Oliver Lindell.
It was a day on which the newly renovated Stellenbosch Golf Club tested everyone, and the wind made the test just a little sterner as the day went on.
โThe wind picked up considerably over the last nine holes, which made for longer approach shots than we had in the practice rounds, and that made it even tougher for me. Honestly, I hit the ball terribly off the tee all day. When I found the fairway, I was miles down there, and I could play stress-free golf from there, but I was missing it right all day,โ Buchanan admitted.
โI missed seven or eight drives right, and when I was missing it, I wasnโt just missing it; I was really missing it. A few errant drives actually paid off because I got far enough right where I had shots over trees or where spectators had been walking, so the rough wasnโt as thick.
โBut when you just miss the fairways, itโs like a cabbage patch. Itโs not grass. Itโs a cabbage patch out there. I worked with my coach, Lana Orgovanyi, for about 90 minutes after the round. If I can get that bit of my game better tomorrow, I know I can score lower.โ
Buchanan is in a good position to make the cut should he score lower and put himself in position to challenge for the Freddie Tait Cup, which goes to the low amateur.
He salvaged a par after leaking it left on his opening hole, but bogeyed the 11th. He corrected course with a birdie on 14, but let another shot slip after the turn.
โI gained a nice bit of momentum with birdies on five and seven coming home,โ he said. โI knew on the par-five fifth I could hit a good drive and I only had 220 metres to the pin. I just missed it in the left-hand greenside bunker, but I holed a good 15-foot putt for birdie. Then I nearly holed out on the seventh and had about a foot left for birdie. It was a nice way to finish.โ
Dian Kruger tees off in the Investec SA Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club; credit GolfRSA
Dian Kruger was the next best of the amateurs, with his level-par 70 putting him in a share of 42nd.
Former SA Amateur champion Charl Barnard was on one-over, together with Judd Sundelson in a share of 71st.ย Sundelson, who won the South African Amateur Championship to get into the SA Open, joined his grandfather Neville and his father Barry as competitors in the national open championship, and his round was etched with precisely the challenges faced by amateurs in the field.
โThe first few holes, Iโve never seen so many people before,โ he said. โIt was really nerve-wracking. It was such an honour to play with Ernie Els and the defending champion Dylan Naidoo, and the crowds were huge.
โI really felt it when the announcers called their names, and I was so nervous over the first few holes that I was swinging really fast. I actually made great bogeys on one and two to stay in the round, and a solid birdie on three helped me to settle. I bogeyed seven and eight. Seven was a bit of a mistake, but eight was just playing really tough. A bogey there isnโt the worst thing.โ
Once he got into his work, things got better for him.
โI just slowed things down on the back nine and I felt more at ease,โ said Sundelson, who is currently doing a second masterโs degree at the University of St Andrews.
Judd Sundelson in action on day 1 of the Investec SA Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club; credit GolfRA
โI was a bit unlucky on 10, because I hit the pin, but the ball spun back and I dropped a shot. On the 12th hole, I hit a brilliant drive and a brilliant hybrid. It was two great shots into the wind and a welcome birdie followed. I nearly holed my second on 17. It went about eight feet past, and I boxed the downhill return putt for birdie.
โWe waited a bit on the 18th tee, and I didnโt hit a good drive. It would have been fine if my ball was half a metre to the left or right, but there was a big patch behind my ball. So, I just went for it.โ
Sundelson missed the green just right, but with a grandstand full of people the adrenalin was pumping.
โI was saying to my cousin, whoโs caddying for me, โLetโs just get this within 20 feet.โ I hit a brilliant flop shot to 16 feet and holed it.โ
Having crossed the first hurdle, Sundelson โ who earned his masterโs degree in Finance and Banking last year โ has done the math.
โI got a chance to talk with Ernie and he was really kind. Ernie and Dylan were both really motivating and their caddies were great. They all made me feel at home, so that helped to make me feel like I belong. But Iโll still be a bit nervous. Iโll be chasing that cut line, which I think Iโm just about on,โ he said. โIโll have that to play for, and Iโm very motivated. I think I will be able to enjoy it, though.โ
Logan Leisher opened with a two-over-par 72 for a share of 89th, while qualifier Matthew Rossouw signed for a six-over-par 76 and was in a share of 142nd.