It was a first outing he’ll never forget, as Tiaan Tibshraeny edged one of Humewood’s greatest-ever golfers to claim the biggest title of his club career.
Gqeberha, South Africa (20 July 2026) – Some golfers wait years for a breakthrough. Tiaan Tibshraeny only needed one shot.
The Madibaz golfer announced himself in spectacular fashion by winning the Humewood Golf Club Championship at the very first attempt, defeating eight-time champion Michael Holden 3&2 in a memorable 36-hole final on Gqeberha’s iconic links course.
Taking on one of the club’s greatest-ever players was never going to be easy, but the 23-year-old held his nerve when it mattered most to write his own piece of Humewood history.
“I always had other commitments, so to win in my first appearance is very special. It’s such an honour to play at Humewood with all its history and against such a tough competitor as Mike.”
The final lived up to expectations, with neither golfer giving much away. After 31 holes, the pair were locked together before the momentum finally shifted in Tibshraeny’s favour over the closing stretch.
While both players struck the ball well throughout the contest, Tibshraeny believes it was his work on the greens that ultimately made the difference.
“We can both keep the ball in play but eventually you have to get it into the hole. The greens were rolling beautifully and I was pleased to hole a couple of crucial putts.”
One of those key moments came with a birdie on the ninth hole of the second round, although Holden quickly responded to level the contest again on the very next hole.
The turning point eventually arrived over the closing holes, where a handful of costly mistakes from the defending champion opened the door. Tibshraeny stayed composed, capitalised on the opportunities in front of him and built a lead Holden couldn’t recover from.
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“My caddie, Tyler Watts, and I agreed it wasn’t the time to lay up. By the second round I had started driving the ball much better and I was confident I could shape the shot the way I wanted.”
Tibshraeny also knew exactly what kind of challenge he was facing against a player who has dominated the championship over the years.
“Against him you know it’s always going to be close. Nobody is going to run away with it. You may be one up or two up and then suddenly you’re one or two down again.”
It’s a statement victory over one of South Africa’s most respected amateur golfers and a debut at Humewood that will be remembered for a long time.
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