By Matthews Mfubu

Ricky Hendler’s consistent form over the last six weeks has seen him climb to the top of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour’s Race To Q-School standings, underlining his intentions to earn his Sunshine Tour playing privileges for next season.

Following his slender one-shot victory over Haraldur Magnus in the Race To Q-School #1 at Modderfontein Golf Club in late January, Hendler has been in scintillating form and has made some positive movements towards the dream of teeing it up with the best of them on the Sunshine Tour.

A second-spot last week at Modderfontien propelled him to the top of the rankings following a series of great results which included a T20 finish at Randpark plus two other runner-up finishes at Germiston and at Wanderers.

Like Hendler, Herman Loubser has been enjoying a rich vein of form which culminated in a win at Wanderers in mid-February. After five tournaments in the Race to Q-School, Loubser lies second on the race and close on his heels is Harry Konig who is also a recent winner. Gregory McKay and Shaun Van Tonder, thanks to their own respective victories, at Germiston and Modderfontein, take up fourth and fifth places respectively.

There are five more tournaments in this series that ends at Pecanwood, and many other players can still make a charge for the top and secure themselves spots at the Sunshine Tour’s Qualifying School in April. Arno Pretorius and Slade Pickering are among those players. They occupy sixth and eighth respectively and will know that a few good results in the next five events and a dip in form on Loubser and Hendler’s part could provide an opportunity to launch their assault.

The race is only at the midway stage, but there is plenty to play for. The next couple of weeks will reveal who will take their spots at Qualifying School in April.