Rowan Lester shot a final-round 71 to move to nine-under-par and finish tied for 24th at the Sunshine Tour’s Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am at Irene Country Club in Pretoria.
Making his second start of the 2026 campaign, the Hermitage man began the final round on the 10th and started fast with a birdie on the par-5 opener. He dropped a shot on 14 but made another birdie on the par-5 17th to reach the turn at one-under, then carded all pars on the front side to complete a fourth successive round in red figures.
He climbs to 40th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and now turns his attention to next week’s SunBet Challenge at Humewood Country Club on the southern African coast.
Gerhard Pepler made his second Sunshine Tour title a memorable one as he claimed a wire-to-wire victory.
Pepler closed with a 65 to win on 24-under, and withstood a strong challenge from Graham van der Merwe whose 61 earned him second place on -22.
“I still don’t really know what’s going on. It’s so overwhelming,” a happy Pepler said after sinking the winning putt on the 18th green.
The final round was a true battle, with three other players also pushing hard for the title.
Welshman Jack Davidson fired the first shot, tying the lead after an eagle two on the first hole. But Pepler answered with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes to regain a two-shot lead. Van Der Merwe and Jaco Prinsloo joined the hunt and came close to the lead on numerous occasions.
Van Der Merwe finished with four birdies over the last five holes to join Pepler on 22-under and holding the clubhouse lead.
But it was Pepler’s eagle on the par-five 17th that made the crucial difference as it took him two shots clear again. A par on the 18th then secured him the title.
“When that putt went in on the par-five for eagle, I totally blacked out. I had my gameplan set for the 18th hole. I knew it’s iron of the tee box, hit it in the middle of the green, and try and make par,” said Pepler, who had his parents with him to witness his victory for the first time in his career.
Pepler’s previous only victory on the Sunshine Tour came back in 2023. Having tied for second place at this tournament last year, it was an emotional moment as he went one better this year.
“I was hoping it would come, I just didn’t expect it to be this early in the season. I am very happy,” Pepler said.
Davidson closed with a 66 to finish third on -21, with Prinsloo one shot further adrift in fourth .
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