Mack Team Leads Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational
James Mack's team holds a one-point lead after the first round of the 36-hole tournament at Lost City Golf Club in Sun City.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Golf
James Mack, Kade Wolhuter, Rainier van der Nest and Linda van der Nest scored 92 points to lead the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational after the first round on Saturday. Mack and Tomas Gana shared the individual low round of 67, five under par.
Why it matters
The tournament raises funds for the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation, which supports the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School. The leaders are only one point ahead, with the top five teams separated by just two points.
The leading team scored 92 points, one point ahead of the 91-point group of Jimmy Tau, Tomas Gana, David Ryan and Kalpesh Morar, while Rolene Strauss's team sits fifth on 90 points. James Mack and Tomas Gana posted the individual low round of 67, five under par, and the top five teams are separated by only two points.
The players
James Mack
A Sunshine Tour professional whose team leads the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational after the first round, sharing the individual low round of 67 with Tomas Gana.
Gary Player
South African golf legend after whom the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational and the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation are named, and who is turning 91 soon.
The details
Teams of Sunshine Tour professionals, sports stars, celebrities and business leaders are competing over 36 holes at the Lost City Golf Club. The event annually raises money for the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation, which supports the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School.
Timeline
Saturday: first round of the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational at Lost City Golf Club
Sunday: final round of the tournament
Season Trajectory
The invitational is an annual fundraising event tied to the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation, extending the Player family's long association with South African golf and charity. With the top five teams separated by only two points, the early standings leave the event's competitive outcome open heading into the final round.
For fantasy and pool players tracking the event, the leading team's one-point edge and the two-point spread across the top five teams mean the Sunday round could reshuffle the standings. The individual low round of 67 set by Mack and Gana is the benchmark for those following individual scoring.
The takeaway
The tight leaderboard shows that a team event decided by only two points across five teams can still turn on a single strong final round. Following the Sunday scores is the best way to see whether the early lead holds.
What happens next
The final round of the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational is scheduled for Sunday at Lost City Golf Club, when the final standings will be decided.
Further reading
Explore more golf coverage on the South Africa Golf section for context on the Sunshine Tour and the region's tournaments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Compleat Golfer.
