MJ Daffue delivered a dramatic finish to secure his first HotelPlanner Tour title, producing a closing eagle on the 72nd hole to win the NTT DATA Pro-Am brought to you by Standard Bank at Fancourt Golf Estate.
Starting the final round on the Montagu Course tied for the lead, the South African carded a composed three-under-par 69 to reach 16-under for the week, finishing four strokes clear of a four-way tie for second place. The victory propels him to third on the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings and marks a significant breakthrough on home soil.
Daffue began his final round strongly with birdies on two of his opening three holes before dropping a shot at the fifth. Additional birdies around the turn appeared to put him in control. However, two bogeys in a four-hole stretch saw him slip back into a share of the lead at 14-under alongside American Hunter Logan.
The tournament turned decisively on the closing par five. Logan found water with his approach, while Daffue reached the green in two. With victory within reach, the South African calmly rolled in an eagle putt to seal the title in front of his family, producing one of the standout moments of the week.
An emotional Daffue described the win as deeply meaningful, particularly at one of his favourite venues. Having previously competed in the event, he compared it to South Africa’s equivalent of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and spoke of his affection for both Fancourt and the town of George.
The triumph reshapes the Road to Mallorca standings. Daffue climbs 94 places to third overall. South African MJ Viljoen retains top position, with England’s Will Enefer remaining second following his recent victory at the CIRCA Cape Town Open. Deon Germishuys and France’s Maxence Giboudot complete the top five.
Bryce Easton, Kieran Vincent, Hunter Logan and Max Kennedy share second place on 12-under, with Germishuys, Jaco Ahlers and England’s Sam Hutsby one shot further back.
The Road to Mallorca now moves to the final co-sanctioned event between the HotelPlanner Tour and the Sunshine Tour, the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open, scheduled for February 19–22, again at Fancourt Golf Estate.
About the HotelPlanner Tour
The HotelPlanner Tour, formerly the Challenge Tour, had its first official season in 1989, and has developed into a proven training ground, where the champions-in-waiting compete across the globe for a place on the DP World Tour.
Many players who have progressed from the HotelPlanner Tour have gone on to become Major Champions – including Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooks Koepka – and Ryder Cup stars, such as Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai Højgaard and Tyrrell Hatton.
Using its vast international schedule and relationships with golf federations and PGAs, the HotelPlanner Tour is widely accessible to professionals from across the globe, giving players from developing golfing nations the opportunity to test their skill amongst some of the most talented up and coming stars in world golf.
HotelPlanner, a leading travel technology company, has been the title partner of the HotelPlanner Tour since the start of the 2025 season.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group administers the DP World Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, as the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe LLP, stages golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup, in partnership with the PGA of America.
The European Tour group has Strategic Partnerships with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the China Golf Association (CGA), Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India. These partnerships provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group which was established in 1972, as well as the HotelPlanner Tour.
