Judd Sundelson won the South African Amateur Championship at Pretoria Country Club after defeating Germany’s Morris Schiefner 3&2 in the 36-hole final, securing one of the biggest titles in South African amateur golf.
The championship, previously won by major champions Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, saw Sundelson add his name to an elite list while continuing a unique family tradition. His grandfather Neville lifted the trophy in 1972, and his father Barry finished runner-up in 1991.
Sundelson pulled away late in a match that swung repeatedly across the day, finally taking control in the closing stretch to seal victory and book his place in the field for the 115th Investec South African Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The win also underlined Sundelson’s strong run of form. A St Andrews Golf Scholar supported by The R&A, he is currently pursuing an MSc in Finance and Banking at the University of St Andrews Business School after completing his undergraduate studies at Nottingham.
Just a week earlier, Sundelson won the Free State Open at Heron Banks Golf Club in a three-way playoff, and he enters 2026 as the reigning R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit champion — the leading university circuit in Europe.
A member of Houghton Golf Club and the GolfRSA National Squad, Sundelson played 14 ranked events last year with four top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result in Portugal on the Student Tour Series.
“This is incredibly special for my family,” Sundelson said, dedicating the victory to his late grandfather.
Sundelson’s triumph marks another major step in his amateur career, combining elite results at home with a growing presence on the international pathway.
