Reitan converts wire-to-wire lead to secure Nedbank Golf Challenge glory

SUN CITY - Kristoffer Reitan arrived at Sun City for his first Nedbank Golf Challenge, hoping to make an impression. He leaves as the champion, a million dollars richer, and with a real chance of heading to Augusta in 2026.

The 26-year-old Norwegian produced a wire-to-wire victory at the Gary Player Country Club, but it was anything but comfortable. He began the final round with a five-shot cushion, yet needed a steady par on the 18th to cling on for a single-stroke win over South Africa's Jayden Schaper and England's Dan Bradbury.

READ: Schaper goes on the hunt at childhood dream event, the Nedbank Golf Challenge

Reitan’s week began in spectacular fashion with an opening 63, just one shot outside the course record. He backed it up with a 69, then a polished 67 on moving day. On Sunday, however, the nerves he had been open about all week visibly took hold. His closing level-par 72 was a grind from start to finish.

The front nine was a mix of birdies and bogeys as the lead tightened. By the turn, Reitan still held control, but Schaper and Bradbury kept edging closer. When he dropped another shot on the 15th after battling out of the rough, the margin was down to one, setting up a tense finish.

But even with pressure rising, Reitan refused to fold. He found three solid pars coming home, doing just enough to keep his challengers at bay and secure the biggest win of his career. The victory moves him into the World’s Top 50 and puts him on track for a possible Masters debut.

After tapping in the winning putt, he admitted the nerves had been “constant all week”, and said he was relieved and proud to see it through.

Schaper, who carried the hopes of the home crowd, and Bradbury both pushed hard right to the end. But once again, South Africa will have to wait at least another year for a local champion, the last being Branden Grace in 2017.

For Reitan, though, Sun City will forever be the place where his breakthrough moment finally arrived.

Written by Lennox Wasara