South African Open: Top 10 power rankings at Randpark GC

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 11: Erik van Rooyen of South Africa acknowledges the crowd on the 9th hole during the completion of the final round of the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club on December 11, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images) /

Erik van Rooyen has had a pretty solid rookie season. If that is any indication, his sophomore season could be even better.

The 28-year-old Cape Town native made a name for himself by contending early on at the Open Championship (T17). He’s also got four top-10s on the European Tour including a T4 at the Irish Open, a Rolex Series event.

Van Rooyen comes in off two weeks of rest after a T26 at the DP World Tour Championship, in which he shot rounds of 71-71-69-71.

He should be eager to return to Randpark after contending at the 2017 Joburg Open. van Rooyen fired 64-67-70-66 to reach 20-under but was outgunned by three by Shubhankar Sharma. His consolation prize was earning a spot into the Open, which obviously paid big dividends.

It’s hard enough to hit 90 percent of greens in regulation in a video game, yet Van Rooyen did just that to lead the field at Randpark. He was great off the tee, too, but couldn’t get it going on the greens.

van Rooyen’s found a way around that flaw in 2018 as he sits 22nd on the Euro Tour in stroke average and is 10th in eagles. Predictably, he’s also a strong ball-striker (18th in strokes gained tee to green).

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