Dawie van der Walt claimed the biggest victory of his career to win the Tshwane Open by two shots ahead of fellow South African Darren Fichardt.
Another South African, Louis De Jager, was third a further shot back as Van der Walt picked up his first tour win of the season.
Van der Walt finished with a five-under-par 67.He was part of a four-way tie for the lead at the start of the day with Fichardt, compatriot Charl Coetzee and Chile’s Mark Tullo.
Coetzee and Fichardt went clear after they birdied the second and third holes, but Van der Walt drew level after he eagled the par four fourth. Fichardt retook the lead after another under par score on the fifth, but by the turn Van der Walt was in front after consecutive birdies.
Tullo and Coetzee were out of the picture after fading on the last nine, while a bogey on the 10th for Van der Walt was negated by birdies at the 12th and 15th put him two clear.
It proved vital as he closed with three consecutive pars to seal the title.
“You can only imagine what it’s like to win such a big one,” Van der Walt told europeantour.com.
“I’m just really happy that I played well and won, because you can play well and not win.
“You start doubting yourself and at 30-years-old you start to wonder if you’re good enough and this shows me that I am. I would have liked to win before 30, but I’ll definitely take this.
“Golf is a game where you don’t get a lot of chances to win, and to do it is fantastic.
“I don’t know what I’ll do yet. The purses are a lot bigger in the European Tour, so I’ll have to rethink some things. You can make your own schedule, which is important.
“I hit the ball really good and I never really had to chip, which is not my strength.”