fritelli banks mauritius title

South African Dylan Frittelli beat Arjun Atwal at the first play-off hole to capture the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

The 27 year old, who was named European Tour Graduate of the Year at the start of the week, after finishing 19th on the 2017 Race to Dubai, birdied the first extra hole after both players had finished on 16 under par.

While Frittelli was a worthy winner of his second European Tour title in tough conditions at Heritage Golf Club, after producing a closing 67, the result was harsh on Atwal.

The 44 year old from India, who will captain his continent in next month’s EurAsia Cup, began the week with a sparkling 62, and almost snatched victory when his eagle putt on the last lipped out, before settling for birdie and a closing 68.

“It’s been a pretty good year for me,” said Fritelli. “I’ve set some pretty lofty goals and achieved most of them, so I can’t wait for 2018 – set more goals and go and chase them again.”

Arjun Atwal's eagle attempt at 18 lipped out to allow Dylan Fritelli to win his second European Tour event
Arjun Atwal’s eagle attempt on the first extra hole on the play off  lipped out to allow Dylan Fritelli to win his second European Tour event

Having begun the day one behind leaders Atwal and Louis De Jager, Frittelli birdied the second but failed to get up-and-down at the fourth to hand the shot back. He chipped in for an unikely par at the sixth, picked up another shot at the seventh, and got up-and-down from a bunker at the ninth, before chipping close at the tenth for back-to-back birdies.

Another birdie at the 14th put him in control, but after missing out on a gain at the par-five last, the door was left ajar for Atwal, who was a whisker away from walking through it after a superb approach to 20 feet at the 18th.