South Africa’s Dean Burmester secured his first win on the European Tour after shooting a final round 65 at the Tshwane Open.
The 27 year old, who has enjoyed a solid run of form this season, with five top-20 finishes, made seven birdies over the first 10 holes of the final round at Pretoria Country Club to open up a six-shot lead. And although he bogeyed 16 and 17, he had more than enough in hand to post a winning score of 18 under par, four shots clear of the chasing pack.
“I can’t believe it,” Burmester said, after earning a career-best payday of over €190,000. “I’ve had an amazing summer, and last week was a frustrating day for me on Sunday, and it didn’t go my way, but then my family and everyone who supported me said ‘we’re coming up next week, so you better win in front of us’ and I’m glad to have done that.”
He added: “I sharpened my teeth as a youngster on the Big Easy Tour here at home and I think I had five seconds in one year and then two years later I had four wins on the Sunshine Tour. It’s gone strength to strength, and now I’m a European Tour winner and that sounds great.”
Finland’s Mikko Korhonen birdied the final hole to earn a share of second place with Jorge Campillo, who made three birdies in four holes to card a 68. American Peter Uihlein birdied five of the last eight holes to return a 66 and take outright fourth ahead of overnight joint-leader Alexander Bjork.
Ireland’s Paul Dunne and England’s James Morrison shared sixth place on 12 under, but it was a miserable final day for Scott Jamieson, who began the round tied for the lead with Bjork, only to crash to a closing 78.