During the weekend of 25th and 26th October 2025, the prestigious Eastern Province Stroke Play Championship was hosted at Wedgewood Country Club and Estate in Gqeberha. Over the course of two days, competitors battled it out over 54 holes—comprising two rounds on the Saturday and an 18-hole final round on Sunday.
This year’s event faced some of the most adverse weather conditions in recent history. Intermittent, nearly relentless rain persisted throughout all three rounds, placing considerable demands on the players and testing their resilience to the limit.
Gathering from across South Africa, 76 players teed it up, including five of the top amateurs in the nation, to contest the title. From the outset, it was clear that a fiercely fought battle was in store. In round one, Vuyisani Makama shot a solid four-under-par 67 to assume the lead, just one shot ahead of the formidable Minjun Heo, at -3.
In the afternoon round, Makama reprised his impressive opening round with another 67, elevating his total to an impressive -8, two strokes clear of Heo. Close behind were Noah Peens and Ivan Verster, both tied at -5, as the competition intensified.
On Sunday, 26 October, the course was already heavily saturated, and as the heavens opened several times more, the weather deteriorated further, bringing additional rain and strong winds that challenged even the most seasoned competitors. Amid the relentless conditions, the cream of the field rose to the occasion.
Makama made bogey on hole 6 but responded with birdies on holes 9, 12, 14, and 16, demonstrating his composure and experience under extreme pressure. It seemed he had a firm grip on the tournament.
However, Minjun Heo was not yet done. After turning one under par after the first nine, he launched an aggressive run on the back nine, with birdies on holes 11, 12, and 13. Despite a setback on 15, where he dropped a shot, Heo rallied with birdies on 17 and 18, forcing a sudden-death play-off with Makama.
As the weather worsened, with heavy rain and increasingly fierce winds, Heo’s steady play on the first play-off hole—needing only a par—sealed the victory, leaving Makama unable to respond under the brutal conditions.
A heartfelt congratulations to all the players who participated in this prestigious event. The EP Golf Union, in partnership with Wedgewood Country Club and Estate and their dedicated ground staff, did an outstanding job in hosting the tournament under such challenging circumstances. Special thanks are extended to the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture for their generous support, along with partners Srixon and Cleveland.
Prior to the official prize-giving, Mr. Rowlin Adonis, from the EP Golf Union Executive, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to youth golf development within the Eastern Province. He introduced the representatives from the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Mr. Avile Qowa (Assistant Director) and Ms. Nozipho Shange (Sport Administration Clerk), who presented two full sets of Srixon golf clubs to two young, promising golfers, Onamandla Hani and Valentino Daniëls—both of whom possess bright futures in the sport.
The prize-giving ceremony was conducted by Mr. Karl du Preez, President of EP Golf, with assistance from Vice President Mr. Clinton Anderson and Mr. Philip Horowitz, Golf Director at EP Golf.