Christiaan Burke took the confidence of several weeks of good golf and turned it into the first-round lead in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at Pezula Golf Estate on Thursday.
On a Pezula course that is in immaculate condition, Burke signed for a nine-under-par 63 to lead by one over Keenan Davidse, CJ du Plessis and Alexander Knappe.
Teeing off the first, Burke turned in four under before his first and only bogey of the day on the 10th.
But he responded with a strong back nine of six birdies in his next eight holes.
“The course is in great condition. The greens are really good. I hit fairways and greens today, but my putting in particular has been really good the last few weeks. So I know if I can give myself chances I can make putts,” said Burke.
Our venue for the week. 😍
— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) November 19, 2025
📍 Pezula Championship Golf Course #VOGFinal #GreatnessBeginsHere #SunshineTour pic.twitter.com/ggwcjnPVaq
Burke has been on a solid run of form on the Sunshine Tour.
In his last five tournament he’s finished no worse than 18th, and he had a runner-up finish in last week’s Stella Artois Players Championship.
“I’ve been playing well the last few weeks. My coach and I have been working hard on my swing and it’s paying off now. It’s just about confidence at the moment. I’m playing off a lot of confidence and the game is feeling good. I can’t wait for the rest of the week,” he said.
Jean Hugo is well placed just three shots off the lead, and as the undisputed master of the Vodacom Origins of Golf Series.
Hugo is a 12-time winner on a series that since its inception in 2004 has defined the careers of many Sunshine Tour professionals.
And as much as it’s been a critical element in South African professional golf, the pro-am element of the series has been equally important as decades of amateurs have been able to enjoy an inside-the-ropes look into the Sunshine Tour.
This year’s series again featured a strong amateur competition, and KwaZulu-Natal businessman Neelesh Sitlu triumphed in the final and was crowned the overall 2025 Vodacom Origins of Golf Series champion.
“I’m still in shock. It’s an amazing series. The networking is great and the people are wonderful. As amateurs it really gives us a look into what the professionals go through. It as close as we can ever come to experiencing that, and this is one of the premier events in the country that allows us to feel this,” said the Mount Edgecombe resident.
SCORES
63 - Christiaan Burke
64 - Keenan Davidse, Alexander Knappe, CJ du Plessis
65 - Jacques P de Villiers, Jaco Prinsloo, Tyran Snyders
66 - Estiaan Conradie, Jean Hugo, Luke Brown, Deon Germishuys, Dylan Mostert, Wynand Dingle, Gerhard Pepler
67 - Peter Karmis, Ruan Conradie, Heinrich Bruiners, Jason Roets, Martin Vorster, Ronald Rugumayo, Herman Loubser, Lyle Rowe, Liam Grehan, Rowan Lester, Ivan Verster
68 - James Mack, Ruan Korb, Kyle De Beer, JJ Senekal, Hennie O'Kennedy, Thomas Spreadborough, Samuel Simpson, Xander Basson, Casey Jarvis, Joe Long, Matthew Spacey, Rhys West, Simon du Plooy
69 - Kyle McClatchie, Stephen Ferreira, Keegan Mclachlan, Neil Schietekat, Jean-Paul Strydom, Ryan van der Klis, Pierre Pellegrin, Albert Venter, Luke Jerling, Wilco Nienaber, Hayden Griffiths
70 - Otto Van Buynder, Ricky Hendler, Altin van der Merwe, Louis Albertse, MJ Viljoen, Barend Botha, Jordan Burnand, Graham van der Merwe, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Jacques Van der Merwe, Stals Swart, Steve Surry, Zander Lombard, Bryce Easton
71 - Hunter Epson, Hennie Otto, Rourke van der Spuy, Haydn Porteous, Stuart Krog, Rupert Kaminski, Conner Mackenzie, Marcus Sandile Taylor, Pierre Viallaneix, Tyron Davidowitz, Zachary Chegwidden, Danie Van Niekerk, Nikhil Rama, Christiaan Basson, Pieter Moolman, Luis Carrera, Mikkel Antonsen, Merrick Bremner, Keanu Pestana, Brandon Meads
72 - Keagan Thomas, Kyle Barker, Slade Pickering, Vuyisani Makama, Tomas Gana, Robson Chinhoi, Benjamin Van Wyk, Warwick Purchase, Cara Gorlei
73 - Nyasha Muyambo, Jake Redman, Kayle Wykes, Jacques Blaauw, Ruan Groenewald, Carter Rowe, Adam Breen, Gregory Mckay, Tristen Strydom, Karabo Mokoena, Toto Thimba Jnr, Gabrielle Venter, Franklin Manchest, Werner Deyzel, David Amm
74 - Christian Kriek, Tyrone Ryan, Ruan de Smidt, Joe Knox, Quintin Wilsnach
75 - Lora Assad, Malcolm Mitchell
76 - Paul Boshoff
77 - Travis Procter, Leon Vorster, James Pennington, Nick Cunningham
78 - Joe Nawanga, Luca Filippi, Bronwyn Doeg, Celestin Nsanzuwera
80 - Kim de Klerk, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa
WDN - Doug McGuigan, Eric Wowor