FNB ESWATINI CHALLENGE PRIZE PURSE CLIMBS TO E2.5 MILLION

EZULWINI- FNB Eswatini and the Sunshine Tour have unveiled a record-breaking E2.5 million prize purse for the 2026 FNB Eswatini Challenge, marking a significant milestone for one of the country’s biggest sporting events.

The prize fund, made up of E2 million from FNB Eswatini and E500 000 from the Sunshine Tour, is E500 000 more than last year’s total, underlining the tournament’s growing stature on the regional golfing calendar.

The fifth edition of the Challenge was officially launched at Royal Swazi Spa by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima. The main tournament will be played at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club from 11–15 August, preceded by a two-day client Pro-Am featuring the bank’s clients and stakeholders alongside professional golfers.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Nzima described the tournament as one of the largest single-sport sponsorships in Eswatini, commending FNB Eswatini for sustaining the event over five years.

He said the tournament had become an important platform not only for sport development, but also for the wider economy, as international players and support teams contribute to sectors such as hospitality, tourism and local business.

FNB Eswatini CEO Thokozani ‘TK’ Dlamini said the bank’s continued investment in the tournament reflects its commitment to supporting emaSwati and contributing to national development through sport.

“This Challenge is one of the ways we bring our promise of help to life. We believe purposeful investment in sport can support economic growth while also creating opportunities for local players,” said Dlamini.

The bank also announced AD Enterprises, aQuelle, Oracle Group Eswatini, Sgonian Republik and Destiny Events as official partners for the 2026 tournament.

The winner of this year’s Challenge will walk away with E396 250. Previous champions include Michael Hollick (2025), Daniel van Tonder (2024), Peter Karmis (2023) and Jaco Prinsloo (2022).

15 emaSwati to feature

A total of 15 emaSwati golfers will compete in this year’s tournament. Twelve local players, including two amateurs, will earn their places through pre-qualifiers to be held at Ezulwini Golf and Country Club from 16–18 July, while three emaSwati Sunshine Tour members are already guaranteed spots in the main field.

To further encourage local talent, FNB Eswatini has set aside E60 000 for the top three best-performing emaSwati in the tournament.

Junior Golf Day introduced

In another first for the tournament, FNB Eswatini has introduced a Junior Golf Day, aimed at exposing children to the sport and giving them an opportunity to interact with professional golfers during tournament week.

Dlamini said the initiative is part of the bank’s broader vision to grow golf in Eswatini and inspire the next generation of players.

Minister Nzima welcomed the move, saying the Junior Golf Day would help ensure that the tournament not only celebrates current professionals, but also invests in the future of the sport in Eswatini.

The launch was attended by stakeholders including Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council CEO Darius Dlomo, Eswatini Tourism Authority CEO Vusi Dlamini, and representatives from the Eswatini Professional Golfers Association.

The FNB Eswatini Challenge remains part of the Sunshine Tour calendar, attracting both local and international golfers from across the world.