Pepler powers to Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am win
Gerhard Pepler made his second Sunshine Tour title a memorable one as he claimed a wire-to-wire victory in the Kit Kat Cash & Carry Pro-Am at Irene Country Club on Sunday.
Pepler closed with a 65 to win on 24 under par, and withstood a strong challenge from Graham van der Merwe whose 61 earned him second place on 22 under par.
“I still don’t really know what’s going on. It’s so overwhelming,” a happy Pepler said after sinking the winning putt on the 18th green.
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Gerhard Pepler wins the Kit Kat Cash And Carry Pro-Am. 🏆 #KitKatCashAndCarryProAm pic.twitter.com/41l20b6qXf — Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) May 17, 2026
The final round was a true battle, with three other players also pushing hard for the title.
Welshman Jack Davidson fired the first shot, tying the lead after an eagle two on the first hole. But Pepler answered with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes to regain a two-shot lead.
Van Der Merwe and Jaco Prinsloo joined the hunt and came close to the lead on numerous occasions.
Van Der Merwe finished with four birdies over the last five holes to join Pepler on 22 under par and holding the clubhouse lead.
But it was Pepler’s eagle on the par-five 17th that made the crucial difference as it took him two shots clear again.
A par on the 18th then secured him the title.
“When that putt went in on the par-five for eagle, I totally blacked out. I had my gameplan set for the 18th hole. I knew it’s iron of the tee box, hit it in the middle of the green, and try and make par,” said Pepler, who had his parents with him to witness his victory for the first time in his career.
Pepler’s previous only victory on the Sunshine Tour came back in 2023. Having tied for second place at this tournament last year, it was an emotional moment as he went one better this year.
“I was hoping it would come, I just didn’t expect it to be this early in the season. I am very happy,” Pepler said.
Davidson closed with a 66 to finish third on 21 under par, with Prinsloo fourth on 20 under par after a final round of 67.
SCORES
264 - Gerhard Pepler 63 64 72 65
266 - Graham van der Merwe 69 68 68 61
267 - Jack Davidson 66 67 68 66
268 - Jaco Prinsloo 70 65 66 67
269 - Christiaan Burke 66 68 67 68
272 - Charl Barnard 68 70 66 68
273 - Ockie Strydom 68 70 69 66
273 - Agustin Errazuriz 68 70 69 66, Pieter Moolman 67 70 69 67, Altin van der Merwe 69 70 68 66
274 - Quintin Wilsnach 68 70 71 65
274 - Jason Roets 67 68 71 68, Estiaan Conradie 69 70 65 70
275 - Hennie O'Kennedy 72 66 69 68
275 - Samuel Simpson 69 70 68 68, Jean Hugo 70 70 69 66
276 - Benjamin Kedochim 72 65 70 69
277 - Thomas Spreadborough 69 71 71 66
277 - Jacques P de Villiers 68 65 72 72, Pierre Pellegrin 72 67 69 69
278 - James Mack 74 69 70 65
278 - Louis Albertse 71 71 68 68, Tyrone Ryan 66 71 67 74
279 - Pierre Viallaneix 73 69 70 67
279 - Jordan Burnand 69 70 70 70, Malcolm Mitchell 71 72 69 67, Justin Walters 70 63 73 73, Ethan Smith 68 70 68 73, Tomas Gana 70 69 69 71, Rowan Lester 68 71 69 71, Stals Swart 71 70 68 70
280 - Luke Brown 71 68 67 74
280 - Warwick Purchase 70 67 71 72
281 - Tyran Snyders 73 68 72 68
281 - Jacques Van der Merwe 74 67 71 69, Lyle Rowe 72 70 69 70, Simon du Plooy 73 66 69 73
282 - Rupert Kaminski 74 69 71 68
282 - Stephen Ferreira 72 70 70 70, Trevor Fisher Jnr 72 70 70 70, Doug McGuigan 69 72 70 71, Cole Stevens 73 69 69 71, Haydn Porteous 73 66 71 72, Gabriel Morgan 73 67 70 72, Kyle Barker 72 67 68 75
283 - Joe Sullivan 70 70 70 73
283 - Ryan van der Klis 70 68 71 74
284 - Jaden Deltel 71 70 74 69
284 - Oliver Goldhill 71 71 70 72, Albert Venter 74 69 69 72
285 - Toto Thimba Jnr 71 71 73 70
285 - Matthew Spacey 70 70 74 71, Benjamin Van Wyk 70 71 71 73, Daniel Cronje 71 70 70 74, Heinrich Bruiners 74 69 69 73
286 - Anthony Michael 72 67 73 74
286 - Luis Carrera 73 68 70 75
287 - Danie Van Niekerk 69 71 74 73
287 - Kyle De Beer 68 74 72 73
288 - Luke Jerling 73 70 71 74
289 - Thabiso Ngcobo 72 69 72 76
291 - Keagan Thomas 71 71 73 76
293 - Wynand Dingle 71 72 77 73
295 - Astin Arthur 72 71 79 73
Missed the cut:
144 - Otto Van Buynder 71 73
144 - Ricky Hendler 76 68, Hennie Otto 72 72, Robson Chinhoi 72 72, Xander Basson 71 73, Thanda Mavundla 71 73, Ruan Korb 70 74, JJ Senekal 73 71, Kian Rose 73 71, Martin Rohwer 72 72
145 - Ronald Rugumayo 74 71
145 - Ruan de Smidt 71 74, Allister de Kock 73 72, Stuart Krog 77 68, Travis Procter 76 69, Kyle McClatchie 70 75
146 - Conner Mackenzie 71 75
146 - Liam Grehan 74 72, Hayden Griffiths 75 71, Jaco Van Zyl 73 73, Neil Schietekat 73 73, Sentanio Minnie 74 72
147 - Keanu Pestana 76 71
147 - Keenan Davidse 73 74, Franklin Manchest 72 75, Merrick Bremner 75 72, Martin Leon 74 73, Vuyisani Makama 68 79
148 - Makhetha Mazibuko 73 75
148 - Dayne Moore 74 74, Jacques Blaauw 75 73
149 - Mitch Phigeland 71 78
149 - Eric Wowor 74 75, Keelan Africa 73 76, Tristan Leonard 77 72, Rhys West 76 73, Herman Loubser 75 74
150 - Jacquin Hess 73 77
150 - Brandon Pieters 78 72, Karabo Mokoena 80 70, Mandla Dlamini Jnr 77 73, Matt Millar 74 76, Travis Ladner 73 77, Tristen Strydom 76 74
151 - Jordan Duminy 80 71
151 - Rigardt Albertse 76 75
152 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 74 78
152 - Dylan Mostert 74 78, Tumelo Molloyi 77 75
153 - Steven Le Roux 78 75
153 - Rhys Enoch 75 78
155 - Shaydon Johnson 82 73
156 - Lyle Pedro 78 78
162 - Lwazi Gqira 83 79
RTD - Omar Sandys 82 RTD
RTD - Allen John 76 RTD
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