South African Ruan tops the POA Golf Series SDT Pro-

South African professional Ruan De Smidt got a strong head start ahead of the inaugural Pearl of Africa Golf Series Sunshine Development Tour when he picked a sh1m cash prize after finishing top in the Pro-Am tournament that preceded the main event at Entebbe Club on Wednesday.

Playing under the Afromania-2 team that included Daniel Kalungi and Ronald Kwikiriza, Ruan contributed 33 points, adding to Kalungi's 41 and Kwikiriza's 39 for a team total of 113 points.

After receiving his Castle Lite pack from Nile Breweries CEO Nkanyiso Mncwabe, Ruan hoped to play even better in the 54-hole main event.

"The course was pretty interesting, actually. Something new for me; I hadn't really experienced anything like it before. The scenery, especially the trees, was just incredible. I really had a good time playing it for the first time," Ruan said.