Bekker hoping to finally find glory in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

The Sunshine Tour will end its year with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, a tournament that has had three South African champions in its seven editions to date. But when it comes to the best South African professional never to have won the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, then Oliver Bekker stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

Tickets are available here through the official ticketing partner ticketbox.mu.

Bekker will head to Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December, hoping to earn what would be a well-deserved victory in a Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event where he has a phenomenal record of consistency.

The South African has played every single edition of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and has on only two occasions not managed to finish inside the top 10.

His record in this tournament includes finishes of eighth, 18th, ninth, seventh, ninth, seventh and 34th.

“I generally play well in Mauritius. It’s a place where I feel very comfortable playing. It’s nice to be able to relax after a long year, come off the course and go to the beach and forget about golf for a while and recharge,” says Bekker.

He’ll be relishing a return to Mont Choisy Le Golf in particular where he finished seventh behind winner Antoine Rozner of France in 2022.

That year Bekker opened with a 64 to place him only two shots off the first-round lead. He was one shot off the lead going into the weekend, and then just three shots behind Rozner going into the final round.

“Mont Choisy Le Golf is the kind of golf course where you can make quite a few birdies. We’ve seen 62s and 64s there before. The golf course almost has a links feel to it, with no trees and a lot of run-offs and hills and bumps and things. Your short game is very important there. But it’s a good fun week where the weather is the main contributor to the scoring,” he says.

The South African record in this tournament includes winners George Coetzee, Dylan Frittelli and Louis Oosthuizen, while there are a number of other South Africans with impressive records in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open but who have yet to lift this trophy.

Thomas Aiken has had finishes of fourth and seventh in this event. Brandon Stone’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open journey has been highlighted by top finishes of sixth, 13th and 11th. Louis de Jager has had two fourth-place finishes in Mauritius. And Jayden Schaper has finished ninth and sixth here.

But Bekker’s record stands above them all as possibly the one South African who deserves to add his name to this trophy.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the Mont Choisy Group, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), the Economic Development Board (EDB) Mauritius, Rogers, IBL, Emtel, Heritage Resorts, Mastercard, Poncini, Range Rover, the Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, Kohler, ticketbox.mu, DStv, Air Mauritius, C-Care, Mautourco, Häagen-Dazs, Ernie Els Wines, London No.1 Gin, Famous Grouse, Oaks and Ames, Graham Beck, Miko Coffee, TCL, CBE and SMAG.

Rozner ready for another week in paradise at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Frenchman Antoine Rozner has confirmed that he will attempt to become the first double winner of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open when he joins a strong Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour field in this year’s tournament at Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December.

 

Tickets are available here through the official ticketing partner ticketbox.mu.

 

Rozner returns to an island which he fondly calls paradise and to a tournament which has played an integral part in his career as he owns one of the best records of any professional in its history.

 

The 31-year-old Frenchman made his DP World Tour debut in this event in 2018 and finished tied seventh. A year later he lost in a playoff to Rasmus Højgaard.

 

Then in 2022, at a Mont Choisy Le Golf course celebrating its first hosting of a major professional tournament, Rozner stormed to a five-shot victory which remains a tournament record.

 

The Frenchman now heads back to Mauritius seeking to become the first double winner of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

 

“I have a lot of good memories from Mauritius. My win definitely helped me to start that season in the right way and I had a really good year. It gave me good momentum and confidence, and everything started in Mauritius,” said Rozner.

 

His victory in 2022 did indeed spark a strong season where Rozner had five top-10s on the DP World Tour. He also finished tied 20th in The Open, tied 10th in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and tied 11th in the DP World Tour Championship on his way to 33rd overall on the Race to Dubai Rankings.

 

And he’s become a firm favourite with the Mauritius fans as well.

 

“It’s the best place you can dream of to finish the year. It’s paradise. Every time I go there it’s a privilege. When I won, it felt like playing at home to be honest. The crowds were amazing. It was an unbelievable week.”

 

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will be the final tournament on the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

 

The winner of the Opening Swing will earn a US$200 000 bonus as well as exemption into the DP World Tour’s next Rolex Series tournament and to some of the Tour’s most historic tournaments, each offering increased Race to Dubai Ranking Points and the chance to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.

 

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the Mont Choisy Group, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Rogers, IBL, Emtel, Heritage Resorts, Mastercard, Poncini, Range Rover, the Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, Kohler, ticketbox.mu, DStv, Air Mauritius, C-Care, Mautourco, Häagen-Dazs, Ernie Els Wines, London No.1 Gin, Famous Grouse, Oaks and Ames, Graham Beck, Miko Coffee, Pro Carts and TCL.

Double glory on offer at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Mauritius will once again host the crowning of the DP World Tour’s king of the Opening Swing, with the US$1.5 million AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Mont Choisy Le Golf set to feature as the final tournament of the Tour’s five-tournament swing this December.

 

Tickets will be available here through the official ticketing partner ticketbox.mu from 1 September 2024.

 

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will be played at the spectacular Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December, with a field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour stars set to gather on the Indian Ocean island.

 

They’ll be playing for the double incentive of AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open glory as well as a host of opportunities open to the winner of the five-tournament Opening Swing, which forms part of the DP World Tour’s 2025 Race to Dubai.

 

The winner of the Opening Swing will earn a US$200 000 bonus as well as exemption into the DP World Tour’s next Rolex Series tournament and to some of the Tour’s most historic tournaments, each offering increased Race to Dubai Ranking Points and the chance to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.

 

“AfrAsia Bank is immensely proud to be associated with the golfing sport that many of our clients enjoy. Staging the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open comes with the prospect of significant economic advantages, with tangible benefits to many vital sectors of the Mauritian economy. This tournament is a springboard to position internationally the ‘Mauritius Brand’ as a tourist destination, golfing platform and financial hub. Beyond the international pedigree of this tournament and the excitement it brings to the world of golfing, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is born out of our commitment to build lasting relationships with our stakeholders through a shared passion for golf and it helps us extend our brand footprint around the globe,” asserted Thierry Vallet, Chief Executive Officer of AfrAsia Bank.

 

This will be the second time that Mont Choisy Le Golf hosts the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open following Frenchman Antoine Rozner’s impressive triumph here in 2022. His five-stroke victory remains the biggest margin of victory in the history of the tournament.

 

“Hosting the ABMO at Mont Choisy Le Golf marks a pivotal moment for Mauritius,” said Dominique Autrey, COO of the Mont Choisy Group. “This prestigious event not only showcases our world-class course but also spotlights the North’s untapped potential.  We are hosting this tournament during the blooming of the famous Flamboyant trees around the Mont Choisy Beach and Golf estate, where sporting excellence, sustainable luxury living, and the natural beauty of Mauritius converge, offering a truly once-in-a lifestyle experience to all those attending the event. The ABMO will be a catalyst, positioning Mont Choisy and Mauritius as a premier golfing destination in the Indian Ocean.”

 

Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the leading Mauritian hospitality group, will be the official accommodation partner for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

 

“For over seven decades, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels has embodied the Art of Beautiful, offering luxury hospitality at Mauritius’s finest beachfront locations. We look forward to welcoming the world’s top golfers and their families, ensuring they experience unforgettable moments. With over 400 million households worldwide tuning in to watch the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, this event will be an opportunity to showcase not just our resorts but the unique charm and beauty of Mauritius,” said Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels CEO, Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé.

 

The global audience of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open makes the tournament a key partner for the goals of the Mauritius Tourism Port Authority (MTPA).

 

“We look forward to hosting the professionals and their families for a week that is indeed a highlight of the golf calendar. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a key partner for Mauritius tourism as it brings the eyes of the golf world to our island and showcases our unique blend of spectacular golf courses and outstanding hospitality. We have a history in the game that stretches back over a century, and we are proud to be able to support the constant innovation in this industry that is represented by this tournament, and which reflects Mauritius as an island of energy and adventure,” said Donald Payen, Chairman of the Mauritius Tourism Port Authority (MTPA).

 

This year marks the eighth edition of a tournament that has showcased the strength of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour’s strategic alliance, and its power to create a global pathway for its champions to further their careers at the highest level of the game.

 

Every single former champion of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is now a multiple winner on the DP World Tour, while several have also won on the PGA Tour. The tournament has also played host to Major winners, and Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars.

 

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour said: “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a proud example of our co-sanctioning success with the DP World Tour. Its status as the final tournament on the Opening Swing and the elevated opportunities that come with this is testament to its phenomenal growth since it first teed off in 2015. We are extremely grateful to AfrAsia Bank and the many sponsors who continue to make this tournament such a success.”

 

Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament & Operations Officer, said: “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will provide a fitting conclusion to our Opening Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai. Mauritius is a fantastic destination and Mont Choisy Le Golf is a worthy test that will combine for a memorable week as we celebrate the first of the DP World Tour’s global swings.”

 

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, the Mont Choisy Group, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Rogers, IBL, Emtel, Heritage Resorts, Mastercard, Poncini, the Mauritius Golf Federation, Phoenix Beverages, Kohler, ticketbox.mu, DStv, Air Mauritius, C-Care and Mautourco.

Oosthuizen goes back-to-back with AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open win

Louis Oosthuizen is a Major champion who has been ranked as high as fourth in the world and has achieved an abundance of accolades in a stellar career. But this one, a victory in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and with his family there to see him win for the first time in his career and also claim back-to-back title for the first time, is special indeed.

With a birdie on the last hole of a La Réserve Golf Links course that he co-designed with Peter Matkovich for a final round of 69, Oosthuizen claimed his second victory in as many weeks on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour with a two-shot triumph on Sunday.

“I’ve never gone back-to-back in my life before so it’s a big dream to be able to do that, and then having my family with me for the first time when I’ve won in my career is very special,” said Oosthuizen, who closed out the week on 17 under par to add to his victory last week in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Oosthuizen’s victory completes a remarkable run by South African golfers in the four Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournaments to end this year, with Dean Burmester winning both the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open.

England’s Laurie Canter finished second on 15 under par following a closing 68, while Sweden’s Sebastian Söderberg signed for a 63 to share third place on 14 under par alongside England’s Daniel Brown (65) and South Africa’s Jacques P de Villiers (71).

Having only arrived in Mauritius in the early hours of last Tuesday morning following the Monday finish of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Oosthuizen had to quickly acclimatise to not only the travel but also a golf course which even though he co-designed he had yet to play himself.

“The golf course was spectacular to play and I think in a year or two, when it has settled and the greens are faster and the rough will have grown a bit, it’s going to be really tough. But for the team here to get this ready to be hosting the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open this year was some magic,” said Oosthuizen.

The South African didn’t have the best start with back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes which opened the door for several others to challenge for the lead.

“I started poorly and didn’t hit it great, but then I found some rhythm there on holes six, seven and eight. On the back nine I felt really comfortable and started hitting good shots. And coming down the 18th it’s nice to have three putts to win,” said Oosthuizen.

And there’s every indication that he plans to return next year.

“These two events (the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open) will probably go on my schedule now, and from now on will be a nice way to start my holiday.”

Scores:
271 – Louis Oosthuizen 68 69 65 69
273 – Laurie Canter 66 74 65 68
274 – Sebastian Soderberg 69 65 77 63, Daniel Brown 68 68 73 65, Jacques P de Villiers 68 67 68 71
275 – Jayden Schaper 65 74 67 69
276 – Thomas Aiken 68 75 67 66, Darren Fichardt 66 72 70 68, Lyle Rowe 66 71 70 69
277 – John Catlin 69 71 71 66
278 – Santiago Tarrio 68 72 72 66, Jeff Winther 69 68 73 68, Kazuki Higa 70 70 70 68, Oliver Farr 69 72 69 68, Dylan Naidoo 68 69 71 70
279 – Paul Waring 63 73 72 71, Marcel Siem 69 69 70 71
280 – Lars van Meijel 67 71 75 67, Tom Vaillant 71 70 72 67, Andrea Pavan 68 75 70 67, Pedro Figueiredo 68 69 75 68, Soren Broholt Lind 71 69 72 68, Renato Paratore 68 74 70 68, Deon Germishuys 68 74 69 69
281 – Kristian Krogh Johannessen 69 70 72 70, Joakim Lagergren 68 70 72 71, Casey Jarvis 67 73 70 71, Jaco Prinsloo 67 72 67 75
282 – Alexander Levy 69 73 71 69, Antoine Rozner 62 74 73 73, Marcel Schneider 67 68 73 74, Pieter Moolman 67 71 69 75
283 – Angel Ayora 69 71 73 70
284 – Bradley Bawden 68 71 77 68, Rupert Kaminski 67 74 75 68, Sam Bairstow 71 71 71 71, Angel Hidalgo 74 69 69 72, Oliver Bekker 71 69 71 73, Louis de Jager 67 72 70 75
285 – Garrick Porteous 74 69 72 70, Guido Migliozzi 73 67 74 71, Ryan Van Velzen 68 72 74 71, Brandon Stone 68 70 75 72, Daniel van Tonder 72 69 72 72, Steven Brown 71 70 72 72, Jacques Kruyswijk 72 71 70 72
287 – Wilco Nienaber 69 68 77 73, Matthew Southgate 72 69 73 73
288 – Alfredo Garcia-Heredia 73 70 74 71, Matthew Baldwin 73 68 75 72, Anthony Michael 69 73 73 73, Dan Erickson 66 73 75 74, Jens Dantorp 71 72 70 75
289 – Danie Van Niekerk 71 72 75 71, Jake Redman 68 73 76 72, Peter Karmis 72 71 73 73, Jordan Gumberg 70 73 69 77, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen 68 71 72 78
290 – Marc Warren 71 72 74 73, Andrew Martin 70 72 74 74, Chase Hanna 69 72 74 75
291 – Haydn Porteous 68 73 76 74
292 – Toto Thimba Jnr 72 71 74 75
295 – Daan Huizing 70 73 80 72
WDN – Andrew Johnston 71 71 71 WDN
Missed the cut:-
144 – Malcolm Mitchell 73 71, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 73 71, Tom Lewis 70 74, Matteo Manassero 67 77, Max Rottluff 69 75, Martin Vorster 69 75, Sam Hutsby 69 75, Martin Couvra 68 76, Frank Kennedy 69 75, Jeong Weon Ko 68 76, JJ Senekal 72 72, John Axelsen 72 72, Samuel Jones 71 73, Matthis Besard 73 71, Keenan Davidse 69 75
145 – Martin Rohwer 70 75, Stefan Wears-Taylor 69 76, Hennie Otto 71 74, Wynand Dingle 75 70, Yurav Premlall 74 71, Mateusz Gradecki 69 76, Sebastian Friedrichsen 70 75, Neil Schietekat 73 72, Hennie O’Kennedy 71 74, Jovan Rebula 73 72, Merrick Bremner 69 76
146 – Freddy Schott 70 76, Dylan Frittelli 71 75, Clement Sordet 70 76, Clancy Waugh 73 73, Matthieu Pavon 70 76, Keagan Thomas 72 74, Nicolo Galletti 74 72, Jack Davidson 71 75, Tapio Pulkkanen 70 76
147 – Kyle Barker 72 75, Joachim B. Hansen 71 76, Haydn Barron 73 74, Keegan Mclachlan 70 77, Jeppe Kristian Andersen 71 76, Jacques Blaauw 72 75, Jonathan Broomhead 72 75, Stuart Manley 74 73, Luca Filippi 73 74, Louis Albertse 69 78
148 – Adam Breen 73 75, Nicolai Kristensen 68 80, David Ravetto 71 77, Will Enefer 71 77, Ruan Korb 70 78, Anton Karlsson 73 75, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 68 80, Jamie Donaldson 71 77, Andrew Wilson 74 74, Lauri Ruuska 77 71
149 – David Wicks 74 75, Oihan Guillamoundeguy 73 76, Benjamin Follett-Smith 73 76, Rhys Enoch 74 75, Nikhil Rama 70 79, Ashley Chesters 75 74, Heinrich Bruiners 70 79
150 – JC Ritchie 71 79, Luke Jerling 73 77, Stuart Krog 74 76, Hayden Griffiths 75 75, Regan Steyn 78 72, Sean Bradley 70 80, Ivan Cantero 77 73
151 – Conner Mackenzie 75 76
152 – MJ Viljoen 79 73, Julien Quesne 71 81
153 – Jaco Van Zyl 72 81, Robin Williams 73 80, Rourke van der Spuy 77 76, Estiaan Conradie 73 80, Pierre Pellegrin 78 75, Oliver Hundeboll 73 80
154 – Rhys West 76 78, Tristen Strydom 75 79, Robson Chinhoi 76 78
155 – Soren Kjeldsen 79 76
156 – Mike Lorenzo-Vera 78 78, Dylan Mostert 81 75, Benjamin Rusch 72 84, Aneurin Gounden 73 83
157 – Vaughn van Deventer 80 77
158 – Albert Venter 74 84
160 – Joshua Berry 79 81
164 – Combrinck Smit 81 83
RTD – Alexander Knappe 69 RTD

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

Oosthuizen chasing back-to-back wins in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Louis Oosthuizen has set himself up for back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour as he takes a one-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at La Réserve Golf Links.

Playing a golf course he co-designed with Peter Matkovich, Oosthuizen now seems intent on showing how to win on it as well following a third round of 65 which included three eagles and which lifted him into the lead on 14 under par.

Jacques P de Villiers is his nearest challenger on 13 under par following a 68, while Laurie Canter is currently third on 11 under par after signing for a 65 on Saturday.

Oosthuizen won last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship to end a five-year win drought, and now looks set to double up with a win in Mauritius.

“I think that was the first time I’ve ever made three eagles in one round, and I missed a short putt for eagle on the eighth hole. I got such a boost from hitting a very good four iron into the fifth and making an eagle and then chipping it in for eagle on the sixth. That sort of momentum gets you going. The wind was tough and there were some good holes out there, but I think I managed myself very well. I played really well,” said Oosthuizen.

Should the South African triumph on Sunday it would complete a summer of co-sanctioned doubles on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, with fellow South African Dean Burmester winning back-to-back in the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open.

“I’m playing well so it’s all going to be about how I manage myself in the final round and my thought process around this golf course. With the wind being this strong you can miss a shot and easily get into trouble out there. But hopefully I keep calm and manage myself well and see if I can get another victory.”

Behind him, De Villiers is doing his best to focus on his own game as he prepares to tee it up in the final group with Major champion Oosthuizen.

“King Louis, indeed. I can’t control what he does but I can control what I do. I’ve got my plan. I’ve been playing well this season and I’ll stick to my game and hit my goals and focus on myself. Louis does his job and he does it well so we’ll see how it goes. I’m in there with a shout and that’s always a good feeling.”

Scores:
202 – Louis Oosthuizen 68 69 65
203 – Jacques P de Villiers 68 67 68
205 – Laurie Canter 66 74 65
206 – Jayden Schaper 65 74 67, Jaco Prinsloo 67 72 67
207 – Pieter Moolman 67 71 69, Lyle Rowe 66 71 70
208 – Marcel Siem 69 69 70, Darren Fichardt 66 72 70, Dylan Naidoo 68 69 71, Paul Waring 63 73 72, Marcel Schneider 67 68 73
209 – Louis de Jager 67 72 70, Antoine Rozner 62 74 73, Daniel Brown 68 68 73
210 – Thomas Aiken 68 75 67, Oliver Farr 69 72 69, Kazuki Higa 70 70 70, Casey Jarvis 67 73 70, Joakim Lagergren 68 70 72, Jeff Winther 69 68 73
211 – Deon Germishuys 68 74 69, John Catlin 69 71 71, Oliver Bekker 71 69 71, Kristian Krogh Johannessen 69 70 72, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen 68 71 72, Sebastian Soderberg 69 65 77
212 – Jordan Gumberg 70 73 69, Angel Hidalgo 74 69 69, Renato Paratore 68 74 70, Santiago Tarrio 68 72 72, Soren Broholt Lind 71 69 72, Pedro Figueiredo 68 69 75
213 – Jacques Kruyswijk 72 71 70, Andrea Pavan 68 75 70, Jens Dantorp 71 72 70, Alexander Levy 69 73 71, Andrew Johnston 71 71 71, Sam Bairstow 71 71 71, Steven Brown 71 70 72, Tom Vaillant 71 70 72, Daniel van Tonder 72 69 72, Angel Ayora 69 71 73, Brandon Stone 68 70 75, Lars van Meijel 67 71 75
214 – Matthew Southgate 72 69 73, Ryan Van Velzen 68 72 74, Guido Migliozzi 73 67 74, Dan Erickson 66 73 75, Wilco Nienaber 69 68 77
215 – Garrick Porteous 74 69 72, Anthony Michael 69 73 73, Chase Hanna 69 72 74
216 – Peter Karmis 72 71 73, Andrew Martin 70 72 74, Matthew Baldwin 73 68 75, Rupert Kaminski 67 74 75, Bradley Bawden 68 71 77
217 – Toto Thimba Jnr 72 71 74, Marc Warren 71 72 74, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia 73 70 74, Jake Redman 68 73 76, Haydn Porteous 68 73 76
218 – Danie Van Niekerk 71 72 75
223 – Daan Huizing 70 73 80

Missed the cut:
144 – Malcolm Mitchell 73 71, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 73 71, Tom Lewis 70 74, Matteo Manassero 67 77, Max Rottluff 69 75, Martin Vorster 69 75, Sam Hutsby 69 75, Martin Couvra 68 76, Frank Kennedy 69 75, Jeong Weon Ko 68 76, JJ Senekal 72 72, John Axelsen 72 72, Samuel Jones 71 73, Matthis Besard 73 71, Keenan Davidse 69 75
145 – Martin Rohwer 70 75, Stefan Wears-Taylor 69 76, Hennie Otto 71 74, Wynand Dingle 75 70, Yurav Premlall 74 71, Mateusz Gradecki 69 76, Sebastian Friedrichsen 70 75, Neil Schietekat 73 72, Hennie O’Kennedy 71 74, Jovan Rebula 73 72, Merrick Bremner 69 76
146 – Freddy Schott 70 76, Dylan Frittelli 71 75, Clement Sordet 70 76, Clancy Waugh 73 73, Matthieu Pavon 70 76, Keagan Thomas 72 74, Nicolo Galletti 74 72, Jack Davidson 71 75, Tapio Pulkkanen 70 76
147 – Kyle Barker 72 75, Joachim B. Hansen 71 76, Haydn Barron 73 74, Keegan Mclachlan 70 77, Jeppe Kristian Andersen 71 76, Jacques Blaauw 72 75, Jonathan Broomhead 72 75, Stuart Manley 74 73, Luca Filippi 73 74, Louis Albertse 69 78
148 – Adam Breen 73 75, Nicolai Kristensen 68 80, David Ravetto 71 77, Will Enefer 71 77, Ruan Korb 70 78, Anton Karlsson 73 75, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 68 80, Jamie Donaldson 71 77, Andrew Wilson 74 74, Lauri Ruuska 77 71
149 – David Wicks 74 75, Oihan Guillamoundeguy 73 76, Benjamin Follett-Smith 73 76, Rhys Enoch 74 75, Nikhil Rama 70 79, Ashley Chesters 75 74, Heinrich Bruiners 70 79
150 – JC Ritchie 71 79, Luke Jerling 73 77, Stuart Krog 74 76, Hayden Griffiths 75 75, Regan Steyn 78 72, Sean Bradley 70 80, Ivan Cantero 77 73
151 – Conner Mackenzie 75 76
152 – MJ Viljoen 79 73, Julien Quesne 71 81
153 – Jaco Van Zyl 72 81, Robin Williams 73 80, Rourke van der Spuy 77 76, Estiaan Conradie 73 80, Pierre Pellegrin 78 75, Oliver Hundeboll 73 80
154 – Rhys West 76 78, Tristen Strydom 75 79, Robson Chinhoi 76 78
155 – Soren Kjeldsen 79 76
156 – Mike Lorenzo-Vera 78 78, Dylan Mostert 81 75, Benjamin Rusch 72 84, Aneurin Gounden 73 83
157 – Vaughn van Deventer 80 77
158 – Albert Venter 74 84
160 – Joshua Berry 79 81
164 – Combrinck Smit 81 83
RTD – Alexander Knappe 69 RTD

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

Söderberg cashes in on tricky day at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Sweden’s Sebastian Söderberg produced a composed second round of 65 to lead the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open by one stroke on a blustery day when La Réserve Golf Links presented an entirely different challenge.

A stronger wind and a tougher course set-up combined to keep the field largely in check after the low scoring of the opening round. It also made for a longer day as play was eventually suspended at 19:00 due to darkness, and with a few players who cannot change the lead who still need to complete their second rounds which they will do early on Saturday morning before the start of the third round.

Söderberg was able to get the most out of it though as he climbed to 10 under par overall and heads into the weekend chasing his second DP World Tour title.

“It was just one of those days where it felt kind of easy,” said the Swede. “It was windy but I was hitting my driver really well. I took care of the par fives and the two driveable par fours and made birdies on most of them. My short game was really good on those occasions when I did miss the green, and my putting was solid. It was a good day.”

His nearest challengers are South Africa’s Jacques P de Villiers and Germany’s Marcel Schneider on nine under par following respective second rounds of 67 and 68.

“I drove it well and just kept myself going with no big issues. It was windy but it was a consistent wind,” said De Villiers.

Englishmen Paul Waring (73) and Daniel Brown (68) and defending champion Antoine Rozner (74) of France are all well placed for the weekend on eight under par.

But where Söderberg found the going easy with a round of seven under par that was the lowest of the day, most of the professionals found it to be far more of a tricky Friday.

“There was a lot of good stuff in there and a lot of rubbish, but that’s golf I suppose. They were quite clever with the set-up and it was really hard to hit it close to some of the flags especially on the crosswind holes. Off some of these elevated tees it’s really hard to control your ball into some of these fairways with long rough around as well,” said Waring.

Rozner, who set the course record with his 62 on day one, fought hard to remain in contention. “It was one of the longest days I’ve had on a golf course. I hit the ball solid on the front nine and felt I played better than level par there, but the back nine was just bad,” he said of a second nine that included a double bogey on the 13th.

But joint course designer Louis Oosthuizen, who is only three shots off the lead going into the weekend, was smiling at a golf course that he feels played closer to how he and Peter Matkovich designed it.

“The first-round scoring was very low and on a golf course that you’ve co-designed you want it to be as tough as it can be. I think the scoring might still be good this week as the course needs time to settle in, but in the future it will be very tough.”

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

Rozner sends a message with 62 to lead AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Antoine Rozner believes he sent a clear message to the rest of the field about defending his AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title as he opened with an incredible course record 10-under-par 62 to lead the first round by one stroke at the new La Réserve Golf Links on Thursday.

“I think they’ve seen it won’t be easy to take this from me,” the Frenchman said of any challenge to his title.

It was a phenomenal round of golf that immediately became the first course record in the first championship round since this golf course opened shortly ahead of this week’s Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event. It was also the lowest round of golf in a tournament for the French professional.

“I couldn’t dream of a better start. I was really hot and shot seven under on the back nine. That was unbelievable. I didn’t miss a single shot and holed everything,” said Rozner, who even holed a bunker shot for eagle on 18 to set the clubhouse target in the morning.

After teeing off on the 10th and climbing to 11 under par with four holes to play, it was a round Rozner thought would end with a magical 59.

“Everything went my way. I birdied holes one, two and three and after the birdie at the fifth I really started thinking about shooting 59, but unfortunately the bad tee shot on the sixth cost me that magic number,” he said after a bogey there, which was followed by a birdie on eight and another bogey on the ninth.

His nearest challenger is England’s Paul Waring who birdied his final two holes for a 63 in the tougher afternoon conditions of wind and rain.

“It’s a little bit unexpected because I didn’t see the golf course until Wednesday because we were delayed getting here. I just walked the golf course on Wednesday and I liked the look of it, then I played great today. I saw Antoine go really deep in the morning so I knew there was a low one out there,” he said.

Young South African Jayden Schaper is currently third following a round of seven-under-par 65 which once again puts him in contention on this Opening Swing on the DP World Tour.

“I played with co-designer Peter Matkovich in the pro-am, and my home course of Ebotse Links is also designed by him. His courses really suit my game,” said Schaper.

But the man looking to become the first player to successfully defend his AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open title and who last year won the tournament by a record five strokes is looking determined to make his mark on this year’s event as well.

“It’s a good course and it will be a nice week. There is lot of golf to be played and I’m really pleased with my start,” he said.

Scores:
62 – Antoine Rozner
63 – Paul Waring
65 – Jayden Schaper
66 – Dan Erickson, Darren Fichardt, Laurie Canter, Lyle Rowe
67 – Pieter Moolman, Marcel Schneider, Lars van Meijel, Casey Jarvis, Matteo Manassero, Jaco Prinsloo, Rupert Kaminski, Louis de Jager
68 – Nicolai Kristensen, Brandon Stone, Andrea Pavan, Renato Paratore, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen, Ryan Van Velzen, Jacques P de Villiers, Santiago Tarrio, Dylan Naidoo, Joakim Lagergren, Pedro Figueiredo, Haydn Porteous, Daniel Brown, Louis Oosthuizen, Jake Redman, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Deon Germishuys, Bradley Bawden, Thomas Aiken, Martin Couvra, Jeong Weon Ko
69 – Oliver Farr, Anthony Michael, Angel Ayora, Marcel Siem, Jeff Winther, Kristian Krogh Johannessen, Merrick Bremner, John Catlin, Keenan Davidse, Louis Albertse, Alexander Knappe, Sebastian Soderberg, Max Rottluff, Stefan Wears-Taylor, Wilco Nienaber, Alexander Levy, Martin Vorster, Sam Hutsby, Chase Hanna, Mateusz Gradecki, Frank Kennedy
70 – Andrew Martin, Keegan Mclachlan, Ruan Korb, Matthieu Pavon, Kazuki Higa, Nikhil Rama, Sean Bradley, Tapio Pulkkanen, Heinrich Bruiners, Daan Huizing, Freddy Schott, Martin Rohwer, Tom Lewis, Clement Sordet, Jordan Gumberg, Sebastian Friedrichsen
71 – Jeppe Kristian Andersen, Soren Broholt Lind, David Ravetto, Will Enefer, Hennie O’Kennedy, Jamie Donaldson, Jack Davidson, Samuel Jones, Marc Warren, Julien Quesne, Joachim B. Hansen, Sam Bairstow, Dylan Frittelli, Hennie Otto, Andrew Johnston, Oliver Bekker, JC Ritchie, Tom Vaillant, Jens Dantorp, Steven Brown, Danie Van Niekerk
72 – Jacques Blaauw, Benjamin Rusch, Peter Karmis, Jonathan Broomhead, Matthew Southgate, Keagan Thomas, JJ Senekal, Jacques Kruyswijk, John Axelsen, Toto Thimba Jnr, Kyle Barker, Daniel van Tonder, Jaco Van Zyl
73 – Benjamin Follett-Smith, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Anton Karlsson, Neil Schietekat, Estiaan Conradie, Matthew Baldwin, Oliver Hundeboll, Jovan Rebula, Matthis Besard, Luca Filippi, Aneurin Gounden, Malcolm Mitchell, Robin Williams, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Guido Migliozzi, Haydn Barron, Luke Jerling, Adam Breen, Clancy Waugh, Oihan Guillamoundeguy
74 – Rhys Enoch, Nicolo Galletti, Andrew Wilson, Stuart Manley, Garrick Porteous, David Wicks, Albert Venter, Angel Hidalgo, Stuart Krog, Yurav Premlall
75 – Hayden Griffiths, Ashley Chesters, Tristen Strydom, Conner Mackenzie, Wynand Dingle
76 – Rhys West, Robson Chinhoi
77 – Rourke van der Spuy, Lauri Ruuska, Ivan Cantero
78 – Regan Steyn, Pierre Pellegrin, Mike Lorenzo-Vera
79 – MJ Viljoen, Soren Kjeldsen, Joshua Berry
80 – Vaughn van Deventer
81 – Combrinck Smit, Dylan Mostert

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

La Réserve Golf Links a unique challenge for AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open field

Both Louis Oosthuizen, the co-designer of La Réserve Golf Links, and Marcel Siem, one of the few professionals to have played it before it hosts this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, have predicted that the newest golf course on the island will demand a variety of shots from the golfers gathered for the seventh edition of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event.

In working with renowned golf course architect Peter Matkovich to create this magnificent links-style course, Oosthuizen said he wanted to bring back an element to the professional game he is passionate about.

“I love links golf because I believe in shot-making and I feel there should be more than one way to play a golf course. With links-style golf you’ve got to see the shot, and sometimes it’s not the prettiest shot but it’s the one that will work for you on that particular hole – a lot of shaping and just feeling your way around the golf course. I think in today’s game where it’s often about tee it up and hit it as far as you can, a course like this with the wind here hopefully brings a bit more skill into the game,” he said.

Having played the golf course more than most before this week, Siem concurred that this is exactly what La Réserve Golf Links will demand from the field.

“They’ve done a fantastic job with this golf course,” said Siem, an ambassador of Heritage Golf Club who now lives on the island of Mauritius.

“It will be a tough test. I hope the wind will blow as usual in Mauritius. You have to hit some good shots here, especially when the wind blows. The wind comes off the left most of the time, about 11 or 12 of the holes, so it’s made for a draw player. The fairways and greens are really good, and there are some really tough holes out here.”

The new golf course adds significantly to an AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open that has once again drawn a quality field, including defending champion Antoine Rozner.

“You can’t beat this. It’s just an absolute pleasure to come back here every year. I love the atmosphere in Mauritius and I love the golf courses,” said the Frenchman, whose victory in this event last December led to a memorable rest of the season where he achieved his best finish in a Major of tied 20th in The Open after playing his way into the top five going into the final round.

“My experience of The Open was huge for me. I think that is going to help me a lot for the next chapter of my career. The Majors would be the next step for me, for sure.”

Fellow Frenchman Mattieu Pavon returns to a tournament where he’s also had good finishes, and with the renewed confidence of claiming his first victory on the DP World Tour last season.

“It’s a great experience to come here every year. This is such a beautiful island with some great golf courses, and I think La Réserve Golf Links is very challenging with beautiful views.”

And former AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open champion Dylan Frittelli is back at a tournament that sparked bigger things in his own career.

“My win here in 2017 was huge. I’d played one season on the DP World Tour when I won this event and it propelled me to getting a PGA Tour card the following year, and then I had my win there. Having progressed through the Sunshine Tour, which does a fantastic job with these co-sanctioned events with the DP World Tour, I really look back at this win as having given me those bigger dreams.”

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

In-form Oosthuizen excited for AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Major winner Louis Oosthuizen arrives at this week’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in winning form as he joins a stellar field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour golfers for this year’s showpiece at the La Réserve Golf Links.

Oosthuizen claimed his 15th professional title worldwide when he won last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

He brings that form with him to an AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in which he’ll be making his second appearance since 2017. The 72-hole tournament tees off on Thursday and finishes on Sunday.

The 2010 Open champion will feel even more confident considering that he is playing a La Réserve Golf Links course which he co-designed with Peter Matkovich and which he knows intimately.

“I’m really looking forward to this week. My family travelled to Mauritius before me and when I arrived here we had a few cocktails to celebrate my recent victory,” said Oosthuizen.

An in-form Oosthuizen adds immensely to a field that includes defending champion Antoine Rozner, five-time DP World Tour champion and Heritage Golf Club ambassador Marcel Siem, French star and recent DP World Tour champion Matthieu Pavon, the charismatic Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston who is making his return from injury, and former AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open champion Dylan Frittelli.

The field also includes rising Sunshine Tour stars such as Luca Filippi, Kyle Barker, Rupert Kaminski, Robin Williams, Jayden Schaper, Casey Jarvis and Ryan van Velzen who have all been challenging for their maiden victories in Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournaments this summer.

La Réserve Golf Links adds significantly to the already world-class golf offering in the south of Mauritius and on the renowned Bel Ombre estate, with Heritage Golf Club having hosted the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on three previous occasions on its critically acclaimed Le Château Golf Course.

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors, including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.

Pavon joins top field for AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Matthieu Pavon has added his name to an already strong field for the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open as the Frenchman seeks to build on his recent DP World Tour success when he tees it up at La Réserve Golf Links from 14-17 December.

Pavon, who challenged world number seven Max Homa for the recent Nedbank Golf Challenge title, broke through with his maiden DP World Tour title in the acciona Open de España by Madrid in October this year.

He joins a quality field in Mauritius that includes Major winner Lous Oosthuizen, defending champion Antoine Rozner, five-time DP World Tour winner and Heritage Golf Club ambassador Marcel Siem, the charismatic Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston who is making his return from injury, former European Ryder Cup star and winning captain Thomas Bjørn, and a host of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour winners.

Pavon has been in impressive form on the DP World Tour this season as he’s climbed to 20th on the Race to Dubai Rankings following his victory as well as six top-10 finishes.

He returns to an AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open tournament where he’s always performed well in the past, including finishes of tied fifth in 2017 and second in 2018.

“I’m just trying to keep doing what I’ve been doing since the start of the year. That win brought me a lot of confidence in what I’m working on with my coaches. Everything is clear in my mind and I just show up and try to do my best,” he said.

AfrAsia Bank also hosted its annual AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Pro-Am qualifying tournament at The Club at Steyn City recently where AfrAsia Bank clients competed for a place in the official pro-am of the tournament on 13 December, and which was won by Johannes Markus Erne.

“I’m delighted to have won and look forward to playing with some of the world’s best golfers in Mauritius,” said Erne.

 

PHOTO CREDIT: SUNSHINE TOUR

 

To purchase tickets for the tournament please go to https://www.ticketbox.mu/

The 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has once again drawn a glittering array of blue-chip sponsors,

including AfrAsia Bank, Rogers Group, Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, IBL, Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels, Heritage Villas Valriche, Phoenix Beverages, Jacobs Coffee, Pro Carts, Mautourco, KOHLER, Häagen Dazs and Oxenham.