Max Kennedy is tied for 14th at the NTT DATA Pro-Am in South Africa after a two-under par round, trailing leader Wilco Nienaber by 14 strokes. Kennedy aims for promotion to the DP World Tour and reflects on his experience from the previous qualifying season. He shares his ambitions for the current year, aspiring to excel in rankings. Meanwhile, Jeeno Thitikul wins the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Max Kennedy of Royal Dublin is tied for 14th position going into the final round of the NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt Golf Estate, having posted a two-under-par 70 on the Outeniqua Course. The 23-year-old made four birdies but finds himself trailing leader Wilco Nienaber by 14 strokes, who is currently at 11-under par.
Kennedy commented on his performance, noting, “Today, I didn’t hit my irons too well. I hit them a lot better for the first two days, but I was able to get it up and down in a lot of places and scrap out a good score.” He is in pursuit of his first monetary winnings of the season and aims for promotion to the DP World Tour.
Last season, Kennedy narrowly missed securing his DP World Tour card by a single stroke during Qualifying School. He views this as a beneficial experience, stating, “I saw it as a blessing in disguise… going straight to the tour is a big leap from amateur golf.” He intends to improve on the second-tier Tour while competing for a place on the main tour next season.
Kennedy emphasized his aspirations for the upcoming season, saying, “I want to get my DP World Tour card, and the main goal this year is to finish number one in the ranking and move towards that goal.” Meanwhile, Nienaber enters the final round with a six-shot advantage after carding a six-under par 66 at the Montagu Course.
Additional participants include Jonathan Caldwell, who is tied for 31st with a score of nine-under after a five-under par 68 at The Links, and Dermot McElroy, who made the cut with a score of 72. In the Ladies European Tour, Jeeno Thitikul won the 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International, marking her fifth title with a closing three-under 69 and a total of 16-under overall.
Max Kennedy is gaining valuable experience on the Challenge Tour as he seeks promotion to the DP World Tour, currently tied for 14th in South Africa’s NTT DATA Pro-Am event. His performance reflects a mix of determination and a learning mindset following his close miss last season. Meanwhile, the lead is held by Wilco Nienaber, as other players continue competing within the tournament.
Original Source: www.irishgolfdesk.com
