Neil Whitehorn, Author at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Parry claims fairytale win in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

On the day of his wedding anniversary, England’s John Parry claimed a fairytale victory in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Mont Choisy Le Golf on Sunday.

Starting the final round five shots off the lead, Parry produced a masterful back nine of four birdies and an eagle over his final seven holes to close with a 64 and win by two strokes on 14 under par.

South Africa’s Christo Lamprecht and Dylan Naidoo shared second place on 12 under par with their respective final rounds of 65 and 71.

Parry’s victory in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event signals a remarkable comeback for a golfer who won on the Tour in 2010 but then struggled thereafter and considered giving up the game at one point.

“At one stage I was back on the Euro Pro Tour and close to giving up golf after first winning on the DP World Tour when I was 23. It’s been a long battle back, but worth every moment for this win,” said Parry.

The victory caps a remarkable year for Parry. He won three times on the European Challenge Tour this year and also challenged for the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and finished second there the week before his Mauritius triumph.

“It’s unbelievable. At the start of this year I didn’t think this would happen. After last week, my mindset this week was more focused on trying to win and not just hoping you’ll win.”

It’s a mindset he certainly displayed with that back nine performance, the spark for which came with his chip-in for eagle on the par-five 12^th hole.

“That chip-in on 12 gave me a bit of momentum for the rest of the round. That was a key moment. I had a quick look at the leaderboard and to be honest I thought I was further back. I knew I had to get at it a bit today. I didn’t expect to chip in from that distance, and then I didn’t miss a shot coming in,” said Parry.

With his victory Parry was also crowned the winner of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing, earning himself a $200 000 bonus.

“I think the big thing for me is knowing that you can do it at this level. This has made me very confident for 2025,” he said.

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.

SCORES

274 – John Parry 70 69 71 64
276 – Christo Lamprecht 69 68 74 65, Dylan Naidoo 70 69 66 71
277 – Jovan Rebula 71 69 67 70
278 – Richard Sterne 75 66 73 64, Freddy Schott 74 68 69 67, Andreas Halvorsen 68 70 72 68, Christiaan Burke 72 67 70 69
279 – Scott Jamieson 69 74 72 64, Corey Shaun 74 68 66 71, Jacob Olesen 67 70 69 73, Eddie Pepperell 66 70 69 74
280 – Marcus Kinhult 72 71 68 69, Clement Sordet 74 70 65 71, Jayden Schaper 68 72 68 72
281 – Hamish Brown 68 68 74 71, Ricky Hendler 72 68 70 71, Ben Schmidt 69 71 70 71
282 – Oliver Lindell 71 69 73 69, Andrea Pavan 69 72 72 69, Wilco Nienaber 68 72 70 72
283 – Benjamin Hebert 69 74 71 69, David Law 74 69 72 68, Renato Paratore 68 73 72 70, Matthew Southgate 74 67 72 70, JJ Senekal 69 75 69 70, James Morrison 70 72 69 72
284 – Deon Germishuys 70 74 70 70, Wynand Dingle 72 69 74 69, Adri Arnaus 72 71 73 68, Daniel Gale 76 65 70 73, Nikhil Rama 71 71 76 66
285 – Niklas Lemke 70 73 72 70, Zihao Jin 73 72 69 71, Filip Mruzek 74 70 69 72
286 – Keenan Davidse 74 71 70 71, Casey Jarvis 71 73 70 72, Jack Senior 71 74 71 70, Sebastian Garcia 70 73 74 69, Angel Ayora 72 70 75 69, Mikael Lindberg 70 75 66 75
287 – Luke Brown 70 71 73 73, Ivan Cantero 69 73 72 73, Gary Hurley 74 68 73 72, Wenyi Ding 76 67 70 74, Tadeas Tetak 73 71 72 71, Brandon Robinson Thompson 73 70 70 74, Joakim Lagergren 71 73 68 75,Davis Bryant 69 73 74 71, Thomas Aiken 73 69 75 70, Sean Crocker 72 73 73 69
288 – Jacques Blaauw 68 71 74 75, Louis de Jager 70 68 77 73, Yurav Premlall 74 71 71 72, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen 72 70 74 72, Justin Harding 73 72 73 70
289 – Jean Hugo 71 71 73 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 69 75 74, Felix Mory 74 71 71 73, Daniel Brown 75 68 73 73
291 – CJ du Plessis 75 70 73 73, Max Rottluff 74 71 74 72
292 – Ryan Van Velzen 71 73 70 78, Jason Roets 73 71 73 75, Alexander Levy 73 72 74 73, Joel Moscatel 71 73 75 73, Jonathan Broomhead 71 70 79 72
294 – Santiago Tarrio 73 72 70 79, Altin van der Merwe 73 72 74 75, Justin Walters 73 70 76 75
295 – Tiger Christensen 71 72 75 77, Kyle Barker 76 69 76 74
298 – Anthony Michael 70 75 74 79

Missed the cut:-

146 – Hennie O’Kennedy 72 74, Louis Albertse 71 75, Albert Boneta 71 75, Jacques Kruyswijk 74 72, Antoine Rozner 74 72, Robin Williams 72 74, Marcel Schneider 71 75, Heinrich Bruiners 74 72, LucasBjerregaard 73 73, Oihan Guillamoundeguy 73 73, Malcolm Mitchell 75 71, Neil Schietekat 73 73, Sam Hutsby 74 72, Pierre Pineau 71 75, Benjamin Follett-Smith 71 75, Kieran Vincent 72 74, Peter Karmis 75 71, Jens Fahbring 76 70, Robson Chinhoi 75 71
147 – Quintin Wilsnach 77 70, Martin Couvra 75 72, Daniel van Tonder 72 75, Pieter Moolman 72 75, Rourke van der Spuy 76 71, Jean Bekirian 75 72, Bjorn Akesson 77 70, Marcel Siem 71 76, Tyran Snyders 75 72, Bastien Amat 79 68
148 – Ruan Korb 77 71, Michael Hollick 73 75, Ross Fisher 75 73, Oliver Bekker 77 71, Kristoffer Reitan 74 74, Graham van der Merwe 78 70, Wooyoung Cho 78 70, Nicolas Colsaerts 76 72, David Ravetto 73 75, Dayne Moore 74 74, Nicolai Kristensen 72 76
149 – Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 76 73, Richard Mansell 81 68, Jean-Paul Strydom 76 73, Callum Mowat 73 76, Jbe’ Kruger 75 74, Conor Purcell 78 71, Toto Thimba Jnr 74 75, Luke Jerling 72 77, Jacques P de Villiers 75 74, MJ Viljoen 73 76
150 – Rupert Kaminski 71 79, Tristin Galant 78 72, Jack Hawksby 77 73, Stuart Krog 77 73, Martin Vorster 74 76, Wil Besseling 80 70, Otto Van Buynder 74 76
151 – Hennie Otto 78 73, Dylan Mostert 74 77, Danie Van Niekerk 76 75, Pierre Pellegrin 71 80, Estiaan Conradie 78 73, Keegan Mclachlan 73 78, Inhoi Hur 79 72
152 – Alexander Frances 74 78, Albert Venter 78 74, Danny List 80 72
153 – Matthew Spacey 76 77, James Mack 74 79
154 – Gavin Green 78 76, Dan Erickson 78 76, Herman Loubser 78 76, Joshua Berry 79 75, Keith Horne 79 75, Jake Redman 81 73, Lyle Rowe 78 76
155 – Gregorio De Leo 75 80
157 – Werner Deyzel 77 80
158 – Keelan van Wyk 75 83, Gabriel Le Court De Billot 80 78
159 – Kyle De Beer 79 80
165 – Ethan Smith 89 76
RTD – MK Kim 75 RTD RTD

Naidoo and Pepperell tied for lead in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo is chasing a maiden DP World Tour victory as he heads into Sunday’s final round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open tied for the lead with Eddie Pepperell, and each with something different to prove at Mont Choisy Le Golf in their final tournament of the year.

At the end of a difficult day of wind and firm greens, Naidoo posted a brilliant 66 during which he surged through the field with six birdies in his opening seven holes, finishing on 11 under par.

England’s Pepperell maintained his place at the top of the leaderboard with a round of 69.

They are both one stroke ahead of Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, who signed for a third round of 69. And South Africa’s Jovan Rebula worked himself into contention on nine under par with a 67 on Saturday.

Naidoo, a winner on the Sunshine Tour, has never been in this position before in a DP World Tour event and will be looking to prove to himself that he belongs at this level of the game.

“I’m excited to be in this position. I’ve been there and thereabouts on the Sunshine Tour before, but I’ve never been in this position. I’ll take it all in and play as well against myself as I can in the final round,” he said.

Naidoo’s front nine was outstanding, but he admitted he did struggle on a back nine which ended with a frustrating bogey on the last.

“I had to find the competitor inside myself at times and make a couple of 12 footers to save par. As good as the front nine was, that’s as much of a grind as the back nine was. But I’m happy with the result,” he said.

The experienced Pepperell will head into Sunday’s final round looking to reclaim his place on the DP World Tour with a victory here after losing his playing privileges last season. He’s also hunting his first win since 2018.

“I think three under was a good round. I didn’t think it was easy at all. I felt like I hit the ball well off the tee today which you needed to do with the crosswinds. But I didn’t feel great with my irons, to be honest. I didn’t hole a lot of putts but did hole a couple towards the end, which is pleasing for the final round,” he said.

“I think I can get around here in five under par, and in windy conditions that could be enough. I would like to see my irons a bit more where I want them though.”

SCORES

205 – Dylan Naidoo 70 69 66, Eddie Pepperell 66 70 69
206 – Jacob Olesen 67 70 69
207 – Jovan Rebula 71 69 67
208 – Corey Shaun 74 68 66, Jayden Schaper 68 72 68
209 – Clement Sordet 74 70 65, Christiaan Burke 72 67 70
210 – Wilco Nienaber 68 72 70, Ben Schmidt 69 71 70, Ricky Hendler 72 68 70, John Parry 70 69 71, Andreas Halvorsen 68 70 72, Hamish Brown 68 68 74
211 – Mikael Lindberg 70 75 66, Marcus Kinhult 72 71 68, James Morrison 70 72 69, Freddy Schott 74 68 69, Daniel Gale 76 65 70, Christo Lamprecht 69 68 74
212 – Joakim Lagergren 71 73 68
213 – Filip Mruzek 74 70 69, JJ Senekal 69 75 69, Brandon Robinson Thompson 73 70 70, Wenyi Ding 76 67 70, Matthew Southgate 74 67 72, Andrea Pavan 69 72 72, Renato Paratore 68 73 72, Oliver Lindell 71 69 73, Jacques Blaauw 68 71 74
214 – Zihao Jin 73 72 69, Ryan Van Velzen 71 73 70, Deon Germishuys 70 74 70, Casey Jarvis 71 73 70, Benjamin Hebert 69 74 71, Ivan Cantero 69 73 72, Luke Brown 70 71 73, Richard Sterne 75 66 73
215 – Keenan Davidse 74 71 70, Santiago Tarrio 73 72 70, Niklas Lemke 70 73 72, David Law 74 69 72, Scott Jamieson 69 74 72, Gary Hurley 74 68 73, Jean Hugo 71 71 73, Wynand Dingle 72 69 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 69 75, Louis de Jager 70 68 77
216 – Jack Senior 71 74 71, Yurav Premlall 74 71 71, Felix Mory 74 71 71, Tadeas Tetak 73 71 72, Daniel Brown 75 68 73, Adri Arnaus 72 71 73, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen 72 70 74, Davis Bryant 69 73 74
217 – Jason Roets 73 71 73, Sebastian Garcia 70 73 74, Angel Ayora 72 70 75, Thomas Aiken 73 69 75
218 – Sean Crocker 72 73 73, Justin Harding 73 72 73, CJ du Plessis 75 70 73, Tiger Christensen 71 72 75, Nikhil Rama 71 71 76
219 – Altin van der Merwe 73 72 74, Max Rottluff 74 71 74, Anthony Michael 70 75 74, Alexander Levy 73 72 74, Joel Moscatel 71 73 75, Justin Walters 73 70 76
220 – Jonathan Broomhead 71 70 79
221 – Kyle Barker 76 69 76

Missed the cut:-

146 – Hennie O’Kennedy 72 74, Louis Albertse 71 75, Albert Boneta 71 75, Jacques Kruyswijk 74 72, Antoine Rozner 74 72, Robin Williams 72 74, Marcel Schneider 71 75, Heinrich Bruiners 74 72, Lucas Bjerregaard 73 73, Oihan Guillamoundeguy 73 73, Malcolm Mitchell 75 71, Neil Schietekat 73 73, Sam Hutsby 74 72, Pierre Pineau 71 75, Benjamin Follett-Smith 71 75, Kieran Vincent 72 74, Peter Karmis 75 71, Jens Fahbring 76 70, Robson Chinhoi 75 71
147 – Quintin Wilsnach 77 70, Martin Couvra 75 72, Daniel van Tonder 72 75, Pieter Moolman 72 75, Rourke van der Spuy 76 71, Jean Bekirian 75 72, Bjorn Akesson 77 70, Marcel Siem 71 76, Tyran Snyders 75 72, Bastien Amat 79 68
148 – Ruan Korb 77 71, Michael Hollick 73 75, Ross Fisher 75 73, Oliver Bekker 77 71, Kristoffer Reitan 74 74, Graham van der Merwe 78 70, Wooyoung Cho 78 70, Nicolas Colsaerts 76 72, David Ravetto 73 75, Dayne Moore 74 74, Nicolai Kristensen 72 76
149 – Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 76 73, Richard Mansell 81 68, Jean-Paul Strydom 76 73, Callum Mowat 73 76, Jbe’ Kruger 75 74, Conor Purcell 78 71, Toto Thimba Jnr 74 75, Luke Jerling 72 77, Jacques P de Villiers 75 74, MJ Viljoen 73 76
150 – Rupert Kaminski 71 79, Tristin Galant 78 72, Jack Hawksby 77 73, Stuart Krog 77 73, Martin Vorster 74 76, Wil Besseling 80 70, Otto Van Buynder 74 76
151 – Hennie Otto 78 73, Dylan Mostert 74 77, Danie Van Niekerk 76 75, Pierre Pellegrin 71 80, Estiaan Conradie 78 73, Keegan Mclachlan 73 78, Inhoi Hur 79 72
152 – Alexander Frances 74 78, Albert Venter 78 74, Danny List 80 72
153 – Matthew Spacey 76 77, James Mack 74 79
154 – Gavin Green 78 76, Dan Erickson 78 76, Herman Loubser 78 76, Joshua Berry 79 75, Keith Horne 79 75, Jake Redman 81 73, Lyle Rowe 78 76
155 – Gregorio De Leo 75 80
157 – Werner Deyzel 77 80
158 – Keelan van Wyk 75 83, Gabriel Le Court De Billot 80 78
159 – Kyle De Beer 79 80
165 – Ethan Smith 89 76
RTD – MK Kim 75 RTD RTD

Pepperell and Brown share lead heading into weekend at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

England’s Eddie Pepperell and Denmark’s Hamish Brown share the lead heading into the weekend of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Mont Choisy Le Golf, with South Africa’s Christo Lamprecht just one shot behind them.

Pepperell maintained his place at the top of the leaderboard, climbing to eight under par with a solid 70 on Friday. Brown joined him with a round of 68 that started with three birdies in his first five holes.

In the afternoon, Lamprecht then moved into contention on seven under par with his round of 68, and was later joined there by Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen following his round of 70.

Pepperell in particular, is well aware that a weekend of opportunity awaits and the last two days have given him some much-needed confidence for the challenge ahead.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to feel really confident because it’s just been a lot of bad stuff in there at times. But I think what I’ve been working on with my swing the last few days does have legs, and let’s hope it has weekend legs,” he said.

“The confidence goes quicker than it comes back, but we all know that if you’re a good player and you find something the confidence can come back quite fast. Then you’ve just got to keep that magic as long as you can. That’s the challenge for me to overcome this weekend.”

As co-leader, Brown is looking forward to a weekend of continuing the momentum of having just gained his DP World Tour card through the European Challenge Tour.

“It’s nice. There’s still a lot of golf left, but it’s nice. I never doubted my ability to be good enough at this level. But it’s still nice to actually do it. I’m looking forward to the weekend,” he said.

The leaderboard remains extremely close going into the final 36 holes, with Lamprecht in particular keen to take advantage of a new mindset he has for this tournament.

“The mindset this week has changed. I just came from playing PGA Tour Q School in America and that was one of the most tense weeks of my career by far. So coming over here with my whole family, who I haven’t seen in a year, I’m treating it as a holiday week and just having fun. That’s been really helpful. It’s a holiday weekend now. That’s all it is. I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it,” he said.

Pepperell enjoys a ‘Honeymoon’ round of golf to lead AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

Eddie Pepperell enjoyed a memorable first ever round of competitive golf in Mauritius as he opened with a six-under-par 66 to lead the first round of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open by a single stroke at Mont Choisy Le golf on Thursday.

On his first trip to Mauritius and treating it as a belated honeymoon with his wife, Jennifer, Pepperellproduced a strong finish of four birdies in his final five holes to lead by one over Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, who signed for a bogey-free 67.

“It’s the first time me and Jennifer have been here. We really love it. We’re staying in a lovely hotel. I said to her before we came out here to treat it as a bit of a honeymoon because we haven’t had one since our wedding in August,” said Pepperell.

The English professional overcame a bogey at the second and produced a string of birdies thereafter, including that strong finish in some windy and testing conditions.

“I’m pleased with that. I wasn’t expecting it. After bogeying the second hole I was worried it was going to be one of those Thursdays again. But I turned it around nicely and played very well. I had a good finish. I just told myself, ‘Keep your head down and let it happen’. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a position where I’m at the top of the leaderboard on a Thursday.”

It was a positive start by the double DP World Tour champion, who admits he had to stay in the present when his game was flowing – particularly on that closing stretch.

“Sometimes it can get in your head, but I just tried to keep my head down and focus and keep doing what I’ve been working on in the range. This year there have been so many rounds I’ve played where things have deteriorated and I’ve become increasingly frustrated, and the difference today was my game held up. Clearly what I’ve been working on has been good, so if I can just keep doing it in tough conditions then I’m optimistic. This golf course is really tricky, especially in the wind. This course needs the wind and you can easily make some high numbers around here. It’s deceptive.”

Olesen was equally pleased with his start as he seeks to emulate fellow Dane Rasmus Højgaard, who won this tournament in 2019.

“It went pretty well. I’m happy about the game. I feel like everything was solid. There wasn’t one particular thing that was really good, but there was also nothing that was bad. I hit some good iron shots and rolled in a couple of decent putts. It was a good start. The wind is definitely a factor here. You’ve got to switch your mindset a little bit and just take your medicine sometimes and play what you get from the wind.”

Italian Renato Paratore, Denmark’s Hamish Brown, Norway’s Andreas Halvorsen and South Africans Jacques Blaauw, Wilco Nienaber and Jayden Schaper are all well placed just two shots off the lead.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is proudly supported by leading brands such as AfrAsia Bank, BeachcomberResorts & 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.

SCORES

66 – Eddie Pepperell
67 – Jacob Olesen
68 – Renato Paratore, Jacques Blaauw, Wilco Nienaber, Jayden Schaper, Andreas Halvorsen, Hamish Brown
69 – Scott Jamieson, Ben Schmidt, Christo Lamprecht, Andrea Pavan, Benjamin Hebert, JJ Senekal, Davis Bryant, Ivan Cantero
70 – Louis de Jager, Deon Germishuys, Mikael Lindberg, Dylan Naidoo, James Morrison, Niklas Lemke, Sebastian Garcia, John Parry, Luke Brown, Anthony Michael
71 – Nikhil Rama, Jovan Rebula, Pierre Pineau, Benjamin Follett-Smith, Joel Moscatel, Ryan Van Velzen, Marcel Siem, Pierre Pellegrin, Jack Senior, Joakim Lagergren, Louis Albertse, Rupert Kaminski, Albert Boneta, Casey Jarvis, Jean Hugo, Jonathan Broomhead, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Oliver Lindell, Marcel Schneider, Tiger Christensen
72 – Christiaan Burke, Angel Ayora, Marcus Kinhult, Kieran Vincent, Sean Crocker, Luke Jerling, Nicolai Kristensen, Wynand Dingle, Hennie O’Kennedy, Adri Arnaus, Daniel van Tonder, Robin Williams, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Pieter Moolman, Ricky Hendler
73 – Callum Mowat, Neil Schietekat, Brandon Robinson Thompson, Santiago Tarrio, Justin Harding, David Ravetto, Keegan Mclachlan, MJ Viljoen, Justin Walters, Michael Hollick, Alexander Levy, Thomas Aiken, Jason Roets, Oihan Guillamoundeguy, Lucas Bjerregaard, Zihao Jin, Altin van der Merwe, Tadeas Tetak
74 – Sam Hutsby, Martin Vorster, Toto Thimba Jnr, Dayne Moore, David Law, Yurav Premlall, Keenan Davidse, Matthew Southgate, Otto Van Buynder, Freddy Schott, Alexander Frances, Filip Mruzek, Dylan Mostert, Jacques Kruyswijk, Clement Sordet, Antoine Rozner, Gary Hurley, Corey Shaun, Heinrich Bruiners, Kristoffer Reitan, James Mack, Max Rottluff, Felix Mory
75 – Jbe’ Kruger, Jean Bekirian, Keelan van Wyk, Daniel Brown, Tyran Snyders, Peter Karmis, Jacques P de Villiers, Robson Chinhoi, Ross Fisher, Martin Couvra, Richard Sterne, CJ du Plessis, Gregorio De Leo, Malcolm Mitchell, MK Kim
76 – Nicolas Colsaerts, Jens Fahbring, Daniel Gale, Kyle Barker, Wenyi Ding, Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen, Matthew Spacey, Rourke van der Spuy, Danie Van Niekerk, Jean-Paul Strydom
77 – Stuart Krog, Bjorn Akesson, Werner Deyzel, Ruan Korb, Quintin Wilsnach, Oliver Bekker, Jack Hawksby
78 – Conor Purcell, Herman Loubser, Estiaan Conradie, Lyle Rowe, Hennie Otto, Gavin Green, Dan Erickson, Albert Venter, Tristin Galant, Wooyoung Cho, Graham van der Merwe
79 – Kyle De Beer, Joshua Berry, Keith Horne, Inhoi Hur, Bastien Amat
80 – Wil Besseling, Gabriel Le Court De Billot, Danny List
81 – Jake Redman, Richard Mansell
89 – Ethan Smith

Pros revel in ‘Golf’s Most Beautiful Week’ at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

“This is definitely a top three week of the year. You know when you come here that you’ll be looked afterincredibly well, play in beautiful weather and get a sense of true Mauritian hospitality. You can sense a little bit more of a relaxed vibe, and it fits perfectly with the island,” says Nicolas Colsaerts.

Oliver Bekker can feel it too. “Everybody is so relaxed this week, even the players. This place just puts you in a good frame of mind. You don’t get as upset if you hit a bad shot. I think that helps with the golf.”

As relaxed as this week is, there is no less of an opportunity for the 156 golfers gathered on the north of the island.

This €1.5 million event, now into its eighth edition, will decide the winner of the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing, who will earn a $200 000 bonus as well as exemptions into several of the DP World Tour’s biggest tournaments in the second half of its season.

And at the same time it will offer the chance for the Sunshine Tour’s professionals to make further inroads on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy and the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings before the festive break.

The Mont Choisy Le Golf course is also primed for a strong welcome of this field since the last time the tournament was played here in 2022, when Frenchman Antoine Rozner claimed victory on 19 under par.

The course, designed by World Golf Awards Golf Course Designer of the Year 2024 Peter Matkovich, has been tightened up with narrower fairways and thicker rough. And the wind will add to the challenge.

“You need to control your ball flight around this golf course,” says Bekker, who finished seventh here in 2022. “It’s always windy, but it’s a consistent breeze. I don’t mind playing in the wind. It’s a scoreable golf course, and if you putt well you’ll always have a chance.”

“It’s a true test of golf,” adds Marcel Siem, who is a local favourite since relocating his family from Germany to Mauritius.

“The fairways are really good and the rough is up a bit more. It’s always a bit windier on this side of the island – I’d say about a two-club wind at least.”

But as competitive as it will be when Thursday’s first round tees off, there’s still that desire from the professionals to enjoy everything that this truly unique week in world golf offers.

“My wife Rachel will caddie for me this week so I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity for us to spend time together and for her to share my life inside the ropes a bit more. I just want to enjoy this week, and when that happens it translates into my performance on the golf course,” says Colsaerts.

Mauritius in world golf spotlight at AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will bring together a strong international field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour winners, former European Ryder Cup players, Olympic Games competitors and the rising stars of world golf on a Mont Choisy Le Golf course whose designer won the prestigious Golf Course Designer of the Year 2024 at the World Golf Awards.

From 19-22 December, the island of Mauritius will be the focus of world golf as a new champion is crowned and the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing of the new season is also decided at this tournament.

The Opening Swing features the first five tournaments of the DP World Tour new season, with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open being the fifth and final event. It therefore offers a golden opportunity for the winner of the Opening Swing, who will earn valuable exemptions into Rolex Series events and the second phase of the DP World Tour season.

“As the title sponsor we are delighted that the global golf spotlight will be on Mauritius this week as we host another memorable AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open,” said Thierry Vallet, Founder Executive and CEO of AfrAsia Bank. “Since inception, our main aim with this tournament has been to stimulate the international status of Mauritius. The tournament’s growing influence on the golf calendar is a wonderful endorsement of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open as a true sporting spectacle for Mauritius.”

Frenchman Antoine Rozner returns as the winner of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open when it was last played at Mont Choisy Le Golf in 2022. Rozner is the most recent of four former winners of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open who have secured a PGA Tour card.

“It is a privilege to host some of the finest golfers on the pristine fairways of Mont Choisy Le Golf, especially as our course designer, Peter Matkovich, has been honoured as the Golf Course Designer of the Year 2024. This accolade reflects the unique design and exceptional experience our course offers. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open reinforces Mont Choisy’s status as a world-class golfing destination and highlights our commitment to excellence and showcasing Mauritius on the global stage,” said Vincent Hardy, CEO of Mont Choisy Group.

This year’s field also includes Germany’s Marcel Siem, a six-time DP World Tour champion and a winner this year in the Italian Open. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open forms a key part of his goals for the new season as he looks to continue the upturn in his career since he moved to Mauritius.

“My goal is to win twice in a season. For the past two years I’ve won once each year, so I can’t wait to have a good start to the season,” he said.

The Honourable Minister of Tourism for Mauritius, Richard Duval, stated: “We are excited to once again highlight our island’s splendour to a global audience, and to have respected golfers like Marcel continue sharing how Mauritius stands as a premier destination for professional golfers. We are confident that both the professionals and their loved ones will be captivated once more by our stunning island paradise.”

The field also includes last season’s winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, Ryan van Velzen, as well as South African stars Robin Williams and the top 10 players on the current Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, led by Daniel van Tonder.

England’s Ross Fisher and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts head to Mauritius as former European Ryder Cup players.

The young stars of the game will be represented by the current leader on the Sunshine Tour Fortress Rookie of the Year standings, Kyle de Beer, and former world number one amateur and now rookie professional Christo Lamprecht.

It’s a true showcase of international golf talent in what has become known as “Golf’s Most Beautiful Week”.

“As the official accommodation sponsor of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, this is a week when we are privileged to showcase our portfolio of resorts and to have the professionals and their families live our promise The Art of Beautiful. We look forward to welcoming the world’s leading golfers to our hotels once again and sharing the dedication of our Beachcomber Artisans in going the extra mile to deliver unique Guest Experiences,” said Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé, CEO of Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels.

Since its inception in 2015, the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open has quickly risen to become a highlight on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour calendar.

“We are extremely proud of the growth of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and the important role it plays in terms of our longstanding relationship with the DP World Tour and the global pathway it offers our members. We look forward to another exciting edition this year and another incredible opportunity for the champion to further his career on the highest international stages in golf,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

Mark Casey, Director of Tournament Business for the DP World Tour, said: “The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is a wonderful example of our co-sanctioning strength with the Sunshine Tour. It has grown in stature and this year’s field is another prime example of this. Mauritius is a true golf paradise and this tournament is a wonderful way to end our Opening Swing in one of the most beautiful golf settings in the world.”

(From left to right): Mark Casey (Director of Tournament Business for the DP World Tour), Yannick Merven (President of the Mauritius Golf Federation), Thomas Abt (Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, and speaking on behalf of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour), Claire Coulier (Head of Communications IBL Group), Jerome Poncini (CEO of Poncini), Thierry Montocchio (CEO of Rogers Hospitality), Vincent Hardy (CEO Mont Choisy Group), Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé (CEO Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels) and Thierry Vallet (Founder Executive and CEO of AfrAsia Bank) at the official press conference for the 2024 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

SA young guns hoping to finish year strong in AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

South Africa’s Robin Williams will lead an exciting group of young rising stars who will finish off their golf year in Mauritius at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, which represents an opportunity for all of them to make their next big breakthroughs in a co-sanctioned tournament.

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

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, to be played at Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Mauritius, from 19-22 December, forms part of the DP World Tour’s “Opening Swing” for the new 2025 season and as such represents a key opportunity for Williams to make a fast start to his DP World Tour career.

The 23-year-old secured his DP World Tour card for the next season through the Sunshine Tour, and amidst what has been a phenomenal rise through the ranks in only his second season on the Tour.

From being crowned the Fortress Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Tour last season, Williams is now a two-time winner on the Sunshine Tour and has impressed in a few tournaments on the DP World Tour. His form has caught the eye of even Gary Player, who has taken the young golfer under his wing.

The next step for Williams would be a breakthrough win in a Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event, with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open offering that opportunity.

“To be in this situation where I am now and competing against some big names on the big stages is mind blowing. I would never have believed it at the start of the year. I’ll just keep going, keep my head down and work hard,” said Williams.

Around him are several other young stars equally poised for a big week in Mauritius.

The 21-year-old Yurav Premlall has already broken through with his maiden Sunshine Tour victory this year, and is just as ready to take the step up with a possible DP World Tour triumph. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will also offer him an opportunity to consolidate his current third place on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy which, if he can remain there by the end of the season, will earn him a DP World Tour card.

“I’ve put myself in a good position on the Sunshine Tour and I don’t want to lose sight of what my goal was this year. The Sunshine Tour is a great platform to get onto the DP World Tour, so I’ll focus on that and hopefully get that job done,” he said.

Both Williams and Premlall will be making their second appearances in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

South Africa’s Jonathan Broomhead will head to Mauritius amidst what has been a very successful year for him. The 23-year-old is a two-time winner on the Sunshine Tour this year already and currently in second place on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy as he also chases that top-three season finish and a chance to compete on the DP World Tour.

And 23-year-old Nikhil Rama will be playing in his third AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open having already experienced what it means to challenge in a co-sanctioned event when he led going into the weekend of the 2023 Joburg Open.

“I know I’m close and I know I can compete. It’s just a week that needs to go my way and I know that will come,” he said.

Rama is also just as aware of the fact that he’s one of a young breed of professionals who could all turn a week in paradise in Mauritius into a life-changing week for their careers.

“Definitely. Yurav was knocking for a long time and I’m really happy he got the win now. I played with Jonathan as an amateur and he’s always been a top-class golfer. So I just need to keep pushing because I believe in myself. The co-sanctioned tournaments will be an important next step for me,” he said.

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.

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, 18^th, ninth, seventh, ninth, seventh and 34^th.

“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, 13^th and 11^th. 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.

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 20^th in The Open, tied 10^th in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and tied 11^th in the DP World Tour Championship on his way to 33^rd 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.

“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.