Top SA star forced to withdraw from SA Open

Cape Town - South Africa's Erik van Rooyen has withdrawn from the SA Open ahead of the opening round at Randpark Golf Club on Thursday due to illness.

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Van Rooyen, ranked 139th in the world rankings, confirmed the news on his Twitter account, writing: "Sad and frustrated to have withdrawn from the @SAOpen_Golf. A decision I had to make, even if it was one I didn't want to. Good luck to all the guys competing. Let’s hope a SAFFA can bring it home".

Countryman Conway Kunneke took his place in the field and teed off on Thursday alongside Brandon Stone and last week's Mauritius Open winner, Kurt Kitayama.

Sad and frustrated to have withdrawn from the @SAOpen_Golf. A decision I had to make, even if it was one I didn’t want to. Good luck to all the guys competing. Let’s hope a SAFFA can bring it home ???? https://t.co/wQu4U7gO3T

— Erik van Rooyen (@FredVR_) December 6, 2018