13 November 2025 – Johndre Ludick and Charl Barnard extended South Africa’s proud history in the Juan Carlos Tailhade Cup with an 11th consecutive top-five finish at Los Lagartos Country Club in Del Viso, Argentina.
It was a poor start for the South African duo, ranked number three and number one respectively on the GolfRSA Rankings. In the first round, Ludick carded a four-over-par 75, and Barnard battled to a six-over 77 for shares of 48th and 66th respectively. The individual lead was shared by Paraguay’s Franco Fernandez and Peru’s Tiago Ledgard on four-under-par 67. In the team contest, Peru led on 137, while South Africa was in a share of 14th on 152.
Ludick hit back with a 71 in the second round, and started the third round in joint 23rd on four-over. Barnard also played level-par, and was tied for 37th on seven-over. However, Team South Africa rocketed from a share of 14th to a share of eighth on 10-over with a 10-shot improvement in round two (152–142). Mads Heller from Denmark led on four-under after rounds of 72 and 66. Denmark also led the team competition at four-under (144–136).
“We spoke after the first day and agreed we had way more to give,” said Ludick. “Once we settled into the course and the rhythm of the tournament, everything started clicking. Fighting back the way we did and keeping South Africa’s top-five streak alive means a lot to both of us.”
Ludick went three-under on moving day and he would start the final round in joint 10th on one-over 214. Unfortunately, it was a frustrating day for Barnard, who carded six-over 77 for the second time and dropped to a tie for 46th on 12-over. Dane Heller retained his overnight lead and sat at five-over after a level-par 71, while Denmark increased their lead in the team competition to nine shots. The pair had pole position on five-under (144–136–141), while Team South Africa moved from eighth to sixth on 13-over (152–142–145).
Barnard pulled it back in the final round once again, and his closing level-par 71 saw him finish in a share of 37th. Ludick closed with a one-under-par 70 to move into a share of sixth on level-par. Heller clung on to his lead at the top of the individual leaderboard, with his closing two-over 73 seeing him finish on three-under.
South Africa’s best score of the week, one-under 141, saw them into a share of fourth with Puerto Rico. With Heller on a total of three-under and his Danish teammate Andreas Focth on one-over for the tournament, Denmark ran out five-stroke winners on two-under 566 over Peru on 571. South Africa was on 580.
Argentine Stroke Play Championship
In the 65th Argentine Stroke Play Championship at Olivos Golf Club a few days later, Ludick finished in a share of 22nd on five-over-par after rounds of 76-70-69-74, while Barnard was two places higher in a share of 20th on four-over. He had rounds of 74-72-72-70. The title was won by the home country’s Oliva Pinto Segundo, who finished on 11-under with rounds of 67-71-64-71 to give him a two-stroke margin over Denmark’s Heller.
“It was another tough test, but exactly the kind of experience we come to Argentina for,” said Barnard. “I’m proud of how we kept fighting all week. Every round teaches you something, and I’ll take a lot of positives home from the way I finished.”
DID YOU KNOW
Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman & multiple Sunshine Tour winner Ulrich van den Berg romped to victory in 1997, and Ryan Dreyer and JG Claassen was victorious in 2009.
South Africa has now enjoyed a run of 11 top five finishes in the prestigious Copa Tailhade since 2011.
2011 – 3rd: Jared Harvey & Graham van der Merwe
2012 – T4: Drikus Bruyns (4) & CJ du Plessis (5)
2014 – 5th: Gerlou Roux (3) & Callum Mowat (5)
2015 – 5th: Tristen Strydom (1) & Teaghan Gauche (4)
2016 – 5th: Kyle McClatchie (1) & Aubrey Beckley (5)
2017 – 4th: Malcolm Mitchell (3) & Matt Saulez (5)
2018 – 5th: Luca Filippi (4) &Therion Nel (5)
2019 – 4th: Kyle de Beer (2) & Luca Filippi (4)
2023 – 4th: Jordan Burnand (3) & Ivan Verster (4)
2024 – 4th: Astin Arthur (1) & Jordan Burnand (2)
*2025 – 4th: Johndre Ludick (3) and Charl Barnard (1)*
*No events were held in 2013 | 2020 | 2021 due to the pandemic and SA did not compete in 2022. The number in () is the ranking the player held when selected to represent South Africa.