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PRETORIA (AFP) – Dawie van der Walt won his first European Tour tournament Sunday by finishing two shots ahead of fellow South African Darren Fichardt in the Tshwane Open.<\/p>\n
Van der Walt fired a five-under-par final round 67 for a total of 267 over the Ernie Els-designed Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate while Fichardt closed with a 69 on the 7,791-yard (7,124-metre) layout.<\/p>\n
A two-metre, 110-kilogram giant, western Cape-born Van der Walt was one shot ahead of four-time European Tour winner Fichardt at the turn and extended it with a birdie at the par-five 15th on a hot, overcast afternoon.<\/p>\n
Both title challengers parred the last three holes and Van der Walt collected a 237,750-euro ($310,690) cheque and a three-year exemption from qualifying for European Tour events.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old winner of the inaugural Tshwane Open was a model of consistency over the four days of a tournament hit by delays on Friday and Saturday when thunderstorms rolled over the course south west of here.<\/p>\n
He had only one bogey over his 72 holes — at the par-four 10th during the closing round — and a solid tee-to-green game set up an unexpected success in a 156-field that included three former Major title-holders.<\/p>\n
“I hit the ball really well this week and probably missed only six or seven greens in regulation,” said the slightly nervous champion after receiving his cheque and trophy.<\/p>\n
“My tee-to-green game was good, my putting solid, and to bogey only one hole throughout the tournament on such a long and challenging course was really awesome.<\/p>\n
“Among the turning points was dropping a birdie putt at 12 — I was desperate for another birdie to get to five-under and once the ball went into the hole I felt I was in control.<\/p>\n
“My goal was to shoot 10-under for the wekend and my focus was reaching five under for the round today. I am really happy that I played well and won because you can play well and not win.”<\/p>\n
Van der Walt said the victory lifted a major concern off his shoulders as he was beginning to wonder if he had the ability to win a tournament at the highest level.<\/p>\n
“You start doubting yourself and, at 30, you start to wonder if you are good enough. This victory proves that I am. Golf is a game where you do not get a lot of chances to win and to do it is fantastic.”<\/p>\n
The often hot putter of Fichardt cooled during the final round and he never looked like overtaking Van der Walt during the closing holes while co-overnight leader Charl Coetzee of South Africa closed with a par 72.<\/p>\n
Chilean Mark Tullo, the other member of the quartet topping the leaderboard after the third round, crumbled to a 77 after needing 42 strokes to cover the back nine.<\/p>\n
Former British Open champion Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland closed with a 69 and there was a 75 from 2012 Ryder Cup-winning captain and twice US Masters title-holder Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.<\/p>\n
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