Herman Loubser equalled the Wingate Park Country Club course record with a 62 to earn himself a three-shot lead going into Friday’s final round of the Sunbet Challenge Time Square Casino.
It was a commanding performance by Loubser as he equalled the course record set by Thriston Lawrence and Jacques Blaauw in this tournament in 2024, climbing to 15 under par overall.
Lawrence is one of his nearest challengers on 12 under par following his round of 65, and was joined on that total by Daniel Conradie (67) and Travis Procter (66).
Loubser, who has secured two titles on the Sunshine Tour after winning the Qualifying School in 2017, signed for a round of eight birdies and an eagle.
“It was a great round. In fact, the first time I’ve hit all 18 greens. It’s been a goal of mine for a while now, so that’s pretty cool and was fun to do. I also putted really solid and didn’t have any three-putts or miss any short ones. I holed a couple of nice ones as well. Any time you get to shoot 62 it’s been a good day,” said Loubser.
Herman Loubser produced a sparkling 62 on moving day of the Sunbet Challenge Hosted By Time Square Casino. He is -15 and top of the leaderboard🔥#sunbetchallengetimesquare #sunbetchallenge #greatnessbeginshere pic.twitter.com/Wwjj1ShwK3
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) August 6, 2026
For Loubser, the winter break did him good as he worked on his game to be in exactly this position.
“I had a really nice break and did some travelling. The last four weeks I did a lot of good work and practiced quite hard. It’s nice to see that paying off now getting back into the tournaments. For the final round I will focus on each shot at a time. I have a good strategy around this golf course and will stick to that and hopefully play well again,” Loubser said.
DP World Tour champion Michael Hollick starts the final round four shots off the lead.
How things look on the leaderboard ahead of the final round 📊#sunbetchallengetimesquare #sunbetchallenge #greatnessbeginshere pic.twitter.com/wlJik9ky7W
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) August 6, 2026
SCORES
129 - Herman Loubser 67 62
132 - Daniel Cronje 65 67
132 - Thriston Lawrence 67 65, Travis Procter 66 66
133 - Michael Hollick 66 67
133 - Jonathan Broomhead 65 68, Ockie Strydom 70 63, Luke Brown 67 66
135 - Travis Ladner 66 69
135 - Benjamin Kedochim 67 68, James Mack 67 68, Kyle De Beer 66 69, Ruan Korb 70 65, Nikhil Rama 72 63
136 - Callum Bruce 68 68
136 - Kieron van Wyk 72 64, Charl Barnard 68 68, Liam Grehan 69 67, Agustin Errazuriz 66 70
137 - Jason Roets 69 68
137 - Pieter Moolman 70 67, Gabriel Morgan 65 72, Tristan Leonard 68 69
138 - Stals Swart 73 65
138 - Allen John 67 71, Stuart Krog 70 68, Xander Basson 67 71, Christiaan Burke 69 69
139 - Jbe' Kruger 68 71
139 - Toto Thimba Jnr 70 69, Shaun Norris 65 74, George Coetzee 68 71, Keagan Thomas 69 70, Karabo Mokoena 68 71, Martin Leon 69 70
140 - Kian Rose 71 69
140 - Rhys Enoch 70 70, Pierre Viallaneix 68 72, Tyran Snyders 72 68, Dylan Naidoo 72 68, Warwick Purchase 69 71, Cole Stevens 70 70, Gerhard Pepler 72 68, Tristen Strydom 69 71, Zander Lombard 73 67
141 - Simon du Plooy 72 69
141 - Daniel van Tonder 71 70, Hayden Griffiths 72 69, Franklin Manchest 72 69, Keanu Pestana 74 67, Anthony Michael 73 68, Jordan Burnand 73 68, Hennie O'Kennedy 76 65, Luis Carrera 69 72
Missed the cut:
142 - Jean-Paul Strydom 72 70
142 - Wynand Dingle 70 72, Thomas Spreadborough 67 75, Keegan Mclachlan 74 68, Jaco Ahlers 70 72, Ryan van der Klis 71 71
143 - Astin Arthur 75 68
143 - Rupert Kaminski 72 71, Jaco Van Zyl 69 74, Thabiso Ngcobo 73 70, Austin Bautista 72 71, Louis de Jager 72 71, Rhys West 69 74, Gustavo Silva 71 72
144 - Estiaan Conradie 69 75
144 - Haydn Porteous 72 72, Pierre Pellegrin 77 67, Adam Breen 69 75, Quintin Wilsnach 72 72, Graham van der Merwe 70 74, Keenan Davidse 74 70, Tomas Gana 73 71, Ricky Hendler 70 74
145 - Martin Rohwer 68 77
145 - Malcolm Mitchell 73 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 71, Rowan Lester 72 73, Dian Kruger 73 72, Ruan de Smidt 68 77, Conner Mackenzie 75 70, Oliver Goldhill 72 73, Neil Schietekat 73 72, Kyle Barker 72 73, Rigardt Albertse 69 76
146 - Njoroge Kibugu 70 76
146 - Merrick Bremner 70 76, Luke Jerling 74 72, Lyle Rowe 72 74, Matthew Spacey 75 71, Dylan Mostert 72 74, Jack Davidson 74 72, Dayne Moore 70 76
147 - Lyle Pedro 73 74
147 - Jacques Blaauw 77 70, Jacques P de Villiers 75 72, Carter Rowe 72 75, Joe Sullivan 75 72, Jaco Prinsloo 74 73
148 - Otto Van Buynder 78 70
148 - Altin van der Merwe 74 74, Shaydon Johnson 77 71, Morris Schiefner 73 75, Sentanio Minnie 80 68, Jacquin Hess 74 74, Steven Le Roux 76 72, Musiwalo Nethunzwi 74 74, Makhetha Mazibuko 75 73
149 - Jordan Duminy 75 74
149 - Eric Wowor 73 76, Ethan Smith 74 75, Matt Millar 74 75, Shaunak Rama 77 72
150 - Marcus Sandile Taylor 73 77
150 - Tyrone Ryan 75 75, Albert Venter 73 77, Carlos Bustos 74 76
151 - Dillon Germshuys 77 74
151 - Brandon Pieters 80 71, Jaden Deltel 73 78, Benjamin Van Wyk 73 78, Vuyisani Makama 77 74
152 - Mitch Phigeland 80 72
152 - Jacques Van der Merwe 72 80, Keelan Africa 75 77
153 - Cosmas Mufaya 78 75
154 - Darlington Chikayambidze 75 79
158 - Tumelo Molloyi 79 79
WDN - Robson Chinhoi 78 WDN
IMAGE: Herman Loubser © Sunshine Tour/Tyrone Winfield