Madsen adds his name to Nedbank Challenge

JOHANNESBURG – The young Dane’s victory in the South African Open has also secured him a place in the upcoming Nedbank Golf Challenge as part of the expanded eligibility criteria for this event.

With his two-stroke triumph for a maiden European Tour victory at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday, Madsen went from a world ranking of 244th to a coveted place in the 30-man Nedbank Golf Challenge field at the Gary Player Country Club from December 5 to 8.

The golfer who initially only used to come to South Africa on holiday, wasted no time in extending his stay to include a trip to Sun City.

“From the very first time I played in South Africa I thoroughly enjoyed it. I always thought I would play pretty well in South Africa, but I didn’t expect to win. It’s an amazing feeling,” he said on Sunday.

Madsen is the first Dane to win the South African Open, and now joins fellow Dane Thomas Bjørn in the Nedbank Golf Challenge field.

“We’re delighted to welcome Morten as part of our 2013 field. The expanded eligibility criteria was designed to give players an opportunity to qualify right up to the week before the tournament and we still have one more event in the Alfred Dunhill Championship to go,” said Alastair Roper, the Tournament Director for Sun International’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The top two golfers on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit have also qualified for the upcoming event as the final field for the $6.5-million tournament nears completion.

According to the expanded eligibility criteria for the tournament, the first and second ranked players on the Tour’s Order of Merit as of Monday November 25 are guaranteed a place in the 30-man field.

This means a debut in the event for South Africans Darren Fichardt and Dawie van der Walt. Fichardt is currently top of the local Order of Merit followed by Van der Walt.