The Limpopo Championship is a golf tournament on the Sunshine Tour played at Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate in Modimolle, Limpopo, South Africa.

Limpopo Championship
Tournament information
LocationModimolle, South Africa
Established2019
Course(s)Euphoria Golf Club
Par72
Length7,699 yards (7,040 m)
Tour(s)Sunshine Tour
Challenge Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundR 2,000,000
Month playedApril
Tournament record score
Aggregate266 Deon Germishuys (2024)
To par−22 as above
Current champion
South Africa Deon Germishuys
Location map
Euphoria GC is located in South Africa
Euphoria GC
Euphoria GC
Location in South Africa
Euphoria GC is located in Limpopo
Euphoria GC
Euphoria GC
Location in Limpopo

History

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The tournament was first played in March 2019 with prize money of R 1,500,000. J. C. Ritchie won the event on the first hole of a playoff with Steve Surry.[1] The second edition was played in early 2020. It was co-sanctioned with the Challenge Tour and had increased prize money of US$250,000 (R3,500,000). Because of the large field, a second venue, Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate, was used for the first two rounds. Ritchie retained the title in 2020, beating Wilco Nienaber by two strokes.[2] The 2021 event was played at Euphoria in April and was again co-sanctioned with the Challenge Tour with prize money of R3,000,000. It was won in a four-man playoff by Brandon Stone, who made a birdie at the first extra hole.[3] The 2022 event was again co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour, with Mateusz Gradecki winning by three shots ahead of Hennie du Plessis.[4]

In 2023, the event was not part of the Challenge Tour schedule and was a sole-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event. Ryan van Velzen won the title, with the tournament being shortened to 54 holes due to rain.[5][6]

Winners

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Year Tour(s)[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
2024 AFR   Deon Germishuys 266 −22 2 strokes   Jacques Blaauw
2023 AFR   Ryan van Velzen 204[b] −12 1 stroke   Luca Filippi
  Jaco Prinsloo
  Daniel van Tonder
2022 AFR, CHA   Mateusz Gradecki 269 −19 3 strokes   Hennie du Plessis
2021 AFR, CHA   Brandon Stone 280 −8 Playoff   Oliver Bekker
  Hennie du Plessis
  Daniel van Tonder
2020 AFR, CHA   J. C. Ritchie (2) 269 −19 2 strokes   Wilco Nienaber
2019 AFR   J. C. Ritchie 270 −18 Playoff   Steve Surry

Notes

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  1. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; CHA − Challenge Tour.
  2. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References

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  1. ^ "Ritchie claims inaugural Limpopo Championship". Sport 24. 10 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Ritchie completes a double in Limpopo Championship". Sport 24. 2 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Stone takes playoff victory in Limpopo Championship". Sport 24. 25 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Gradecki seals maiden Challenge Tour title in Limpopo". European Tour. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Storm suspends play at Limpopo Championship". Sunshine Tour. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  6. ^ Vlismas, Michael (2 April 2023). "Debut Sunshine Tour win for Van Velzen in Limpopo Championship". SuperSport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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