On the heartbreaking final day of the 2026 Nedbank Golf Challenge, Kristoffer Reitan defeated partner Jayden Schaper and Golf News columnist Dan Bradbury to honor Gary Player for his second DP World Tour title.
Reitan started the day with a five-shot lead but struggled to maintain consistency, leaving the door open for chasing teams.
The Norwegian had four birdies and three bogeys on the front nine to hold a four-shot lead going into the turn, but when he parred the first five holes of the back nine, Schaper and Bradbury closed the gap to two shots.
Reitan put even more pressure on himself when he bogeyed the 15th hole to stay just one shot ahead, but he managed to hold on and end up with a one-stroke wire-to-wire victory.
Reitan shot a par 71 to finish at 17 under, one shot ahead of local favorite Schaper and Briton Bradbury.
Reitan got off to a shaky start on Sunday morning, bogeying the first hole but fighting back with a close shot on the second hole.
He followed that up with another bogey on the third hole and then holed a 13-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole to move to a three-stroke lead at 17 under.
After failing to make par on the short seventh hole, Reitan rebounded with a long birdie on the eighth hole and then another birdie from close range on the ninth hole for a 35.
But as Reitan struggled not to drop shots on the back nine, Schaper and Bradbury found the birdies they needed to chip away at his lead.
The chasing pair were just one shot behind when Reitan made bogey after failing to clear the rough on his third shot on the 15th hole.
But Reitan regained his composure, parred the final three holes, shut out his playing partner and won his second DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open in May.
He said: “I don’t know how I feel right now. I was nervous today.
“But finally crossing the line felt better than I can describe.
“I’m trying my best to deal with the nerves and the fear. It’s really, really difficult. I’ve been doing really well since the middle of the season last year.
“Things are getting more difficult but I’m happy to handle it in a good way and get it done. It means a lot. I’m happy.
“To be honest, I’ve been nervous all week but getting more and more nervous. Today was different.
“You can probably tell some of the shots I hit as well.
“I was really happy to cross the finish line and have the courage to hit the ball, especially in the closing stages when I needed to hit the ball.”
Reitan had a stellar year in 2025, earning dual membership on the PGA Tour after winning his first DP World Tour title in Belgium.
He added: “I’m very proud of myself. Proud of my whole team too. I’m very demanding and they do everything they can to help me. Just ask my caddy!
“But yeah, I’m definitely proud of myself and I’m happy to be able to say that.”
