John Williams and Justine Shikulo emerged victorious in the 13th and final preliminary round of the Nedbank for Good Series, which concluded with resounding success at the Windhoek Golf and Country Club (WGCC) in Windhoek on Saturday, 13 September.
This sets the stage for the anticipated final showdown of the series, which will take place on 3 October at Omeya Golf Club, situated on the outskirts of Windhoek, where 25 finalists (13 men and 12 women) from the preliminary rounds, will clash to crown the 2025 Nedbank for Good Series champion.
In the men’s competition at round 13, Williams emerged victorious with an impressive 43 points to claim first position ahead of John Chadiywa, who scored 41 points in second place. Third place was claimed by Philip Steenberg, who scored 40 points counted in (C/I), ahead of Melt van Schoor, who also scored 40 points counted out (C/O) in fourth place.
Williams said his victory was completely unexpected because he had approached the tournament feeling like he was not at his best:
‘I did not come to win; I had zero game plan, just to get the ball in the fairway. I came just to enjoy myself and support the cause. I just wanted to have a relaxing round of golf, enjoy myself, and enjoy the company.’
He added that he is excited for the finals at Omeya, where he will do his best and continue supporting the cause.
In the women’s division, Shikulo claimed the women’s title with 41 points C/I, ahead of Lucy Mohale, who also scored 41 points C/O in second place. Third place was claimed by Suene Venter, who scored 39 points.
Speaking after her victory, Shikulo said it feels great to have won, as she did not expect to win: ‘My game plan for the day was to keep the ball in play and avoid taking hero shots that would land me in trouble. Coming from the coast, the hot weather in Windhoek is always a challenge for me; however, despite the heat, I managed to push through and stayed focused to find the fairways. It was a beautiful day.’ Shikulo thanked the organisers and sponsors for their dedication and effort in always making the event a success.
The tournament was played in the Individual Stableford format, which awards points based on a player’s net score on each hole. A total of 98 amateur golfers participated, including 14 women, providing a competitive environment.
Organiser, Dan Zwiebel of DZ Golf lauded the well-attended event, expressing his satisfaction with the series’ growth and impact: “This is our 13th event, marking the conclusion of our 13 qualifying events before the final at Omeya Golf Club on 3 October. This year, we proudly added three additional venues in smaller towns like Okahandja, Grootfontein, and Outjo. The addition has been amazing, and we have so many nice stories to tell about these smaller towns. All in all, we’ve seen amazing growth within the game and the series, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve with this series. We’re making a significant change by supporting charities, but we are also focusing on growing this game.’
He noted the high level of competition and extended his gratitude to the WGCC for preparing a magnificent course, while commending the players for their hard but fair play.
Looking ahead to the finals, Zwiebel explained the unique experience awaiting the qualifiers:
‘We will pull out all the stops for the finals. Our guests will be treated to a five-star experience. The prize-giving ceremony will take place on the same day at the Nedbank Campus Sky Garden.’ Nedbank Namibia’s Chief Commercial Officer, JG van Graan, paid tribute to all participants, emphasising that their approach to the series was multi-purpose.
‘As money experts who do good in the communities we operate in, Nedbank Namibia is not only supporting the series for competition purposes; we are also aware of the deeper cause that this initiative is supporting. The agricultural sector is the backbone of Namibia’s economy, and its growth is essential for our nation’s prosperity. Our government, through the National Development Plan 6, has rightfully identified agriculture as a key priority. However, for this to be a success, we must ensure that all farmers, especially those in underserved communities, have the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive.’
He added that by providing essential training and support, Nedbank is directly contributing to the development of these communities, helping to increase agricultural output, and building a more food-secure future for all Namibians.
Van Graan extended his best wishes to the finalists, urging them to prepare well for the upcoming finals, and he recommitted Nedbank to continuing its support for the series in the coming years.
This year’s series has been a remarkable journey, taking the competition to various golf courses and towns across Namibia, including Omeya, Oranjemund, Gobabis, Okahandja, Mariental, Oshakati, Grootfontein, Outjo, Henties Bay, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and finally Windhoek.
This year’s proceeds from the series will directly benefit Agra ProVision, an initiative dedicated to providing crucial training, services, and support to underserved agricultural communities.
The Nedbank for Good Series is made possible by the generous support of its partners. Nedbank Namibia serves as the title sponsor, with co-sponsors Autohaus Windhoek, Vivo Energy, AfricaOnline, Agra, B2Gold, Gondwana Collection Namibia, JTC Namibia, King Price, Pupkewitz Megabuild, Town Lodge Windhoek, and WV-Manufacturing. Future Media is the official media partner.
