South Africa Makes History with First-Ever Eisenhower Trophy Win

Photo Credit: Golf RSA

South Africa makes history at the 2025 Eisenhower Trophy as Christiaan Maas, Daniel Bennett, and Charl Barnard deliver a flawless performance to claim the nation’s first-ever World Amateur Team title in Singapore.

Singapore (13 October 2025) – History was made on Saturday as South Africa’s Christiaan Maas, Daniel Bennett, and Charl Barnard claimed the country’s first-ever Eisenhower Trophy, dominating the competition at Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore. The trio delivered a week of brilliance and teamwork to write South Africa’s name onto the World Amateur Team Championships trophy for the very first time.

It was a performance that combined skill and focus. Texas Longhorn teammates Christiaan and Daniel led the charge with rounds of 139, 135, 132 (the lowest of the tournament), and a closing 141, securing the historic win. Australia finished second for the second consecutive year, while England earned bronze, making it their first medal in the event.

Christiaan led from the front, producing rounds of 66, 66, 65, and 69 to finish 22-under-par, winning the Individual Competition by an astonishing 10 strokes. Just one shy of Jon Rahm’s 72-hole record. Across four rounds, he dropped only three shots, showcasing the remarkable consistency of a champion. The win felt unbelievable, even for Christiaan.

“It’s surreal. When you think of all the incredible South Africans who’ve represented our country at this event, and how close they came, it’s humbling to be part of the team that finally took that last step. We stayed calm, trusted our process, and played for something bigger than ourselves. This one’s for South Africa. It’s for every coach, teammate, and junior who dreams of wearing the green and gold.”

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The victory surpasses South Africa’s previous best finishes (second in 1980 and third in 1972 and 1970) and marks a milestone for the nation’s amateur golf. GolfRSA Chief Executive Grant Hepburn said the win was a defining moment.

“This is an incredible moment for South African golf. Credit to the players, they handled the pressure and delivered when it mattered most. Christian and Dan were exceptional, while Charl showed maturity beyond his years. We couldn’t be prouder of these young men.”

The achievement has been celebrated widely online, with posts highlighting the #2025WATC, #TeamSouthAfrica, #ProteaPride, and #HistoryMade. South Africa’s first Eisenhower Trophy is an inspiration for generations of young golfers to dream bigger.