Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

Louis Oosthuizen, the defending champion of the Dimension Data golf event, will not be taking part and his absence leaves the race wide open in this R1,8 million tournament.

The event takes place at the Lost City and the Gary Player Country clubs in Sun City from January 24-27.

Oosthuizen is playing in Dubai and will not be available when this tournament tees off.

Lali Stander, the Sunshine Tour media manager, said James Kamte and Omar Sandys were good bets to win this tournament, though they will be up against top golfers.

Sandys came second in this event last year and Kamte seventh, but both are bound to be at their best this time round.

"Kamte missed the SAA Open and the Alfred Dunhill following the death of his father, but he recently came 21st in the lucrative Joburg Open that was introduced this year" Stander said.

She said this tournament would feature the highest number of black entries in the past 13 years: "A large number of black players has qualified and we expect an exciting tournament."

These players also include Bafana Hlophe, Thabang Simon, Lindani Ndwandwe, Tangoona Charamba and Irvin Mosate.

Kamte has been doing well in his career. Though he has not won a major tournament on the Sunshine Tour, he has finished in the top 10 at events such as the FNB Botswana Open (5), the Vodacom Origins in Zimbali (3), Vodacom Origins in Arabella (7) and the MTC Namibian PGA Championship (4).

Sandys also did well in the Vodacom Origins in Arabella (3), SAA Pro-Am Invitational (6), Telkom PGA Pro-Am (8), Dimension Data Pro-Am (2), and the Lombard Insurance Classic (4).