Liam Grehan is set for a sizeable rise in the Sunshine Tour Rankings after a T10 finish at the SunBet Challenge at Wingate Park Country Club in Pretoria.
The K Club pro came into the week ranked 80th after making just one cut in five Sunshine Tour starts in the new campaign prior to the mid-season break, but after rounds of 69 and 67, he entered the final round of the SunBet Challenge tied for 15th and with a top-10 finish firmly in his sights.
Two birdies and one bogey on the way out meant his outside chances of finishing on the podium were all but gone, but a bogey-free back nine that featured birdies on three par-5s – 13, 15 and 18 – and another on the par-4 17th took him to 13-under for the week, and he finished in a three-way tie for 10th. Alongside him was Michael Hollick, winner of the recent BMW International on the DP World Tour, and two shots behind and tied for 13th was three-time DP World Tour winner Thriston Lawrence.
Herman Loubser, who took a three-stroke lead into the final round after a blistering 62 on Thursday, struggled to a 73 as 28-year-old Luke Brown stormed to the top with four birdies on the front nine.
Further birdies on 10 and 11 put him firmly in control, and though he couldn’t take advantage of the par-5 13th, an eagle on the 15th gave him enough cushion to be able to par his way home and seal a two-stroke win for his second Sunshine Tour success.
Grehan’s performance earned him 45.84 Courier Guy Order of Merit ranking points, and lifts him up to 65th in the rankings, overtaking Rowan Lester who dropped to 71st after missing the cut.
Both men now turn their attention to the Eswatini Challenge which begins on Thursday August 13 at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club.
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