England’s Laurie Canter misplaced in a play-off in opposition to house favorite Dylan Naidoo on the Investec South African Open Championship after flooding at Durban Nation Membership.
Officers determined to desert the fourth spherical as a consequence of torrential rain which left elements of the course beneath water.
With each gamers topping the leaderboard on 14 beneath after three rounds, the pair contested a play-off for the title as soon as the rain cleared on Sunday afternoon and 27-year-old Naidoo, ranked 466th on the planet, took a maiden DP World Tour victory in his house nation.
“It feels like a dream, its overwhelming,” mentioned Naidoo, who was common with the gang in Durban. “I felt like I was Tiger Woods playing out there yesterday with so many people supporting me.”
Each gamers got here up wanting the inexperienced with their tee pictures on the par-four 18th, however Naidoo’s second was higher than Canter’s, with the Englishman touchdown 15 ft from the outlet.
He missed his birdie probability, whereas Naidoo, placing from round 4 ft, held his nerve to safe victory on the waterlogged course.
“That type of shot is my bread and butter, a little low skipper,” he mentioned. “The boys who play observe rounds with me know that I do this on a regular basis.
“I didn’t have a lot of fear on the shot, it was actually a really nice shot for me to have in the moment. I was more worried about the putt. That putter went back a little squiggly!”
Naidoo proudly shows the Investec South African Open Championship trophy
Naidoo’s victory secures him a spot at The Open at Royal Portrush later this yr, whereas Canter – who completed alone in second – now leads the Race to Dubai Rankings and nonetheless tops the Worldwide Swing standings.
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One other Englishman, Marco Penge, was one shot additional again in third, whereas South Africans Darren Fichardt, Branden Grace and beginner Christiaan Maas shared fourth place, ending 12 beneath par for the match.
Penge and Fichardt secured the opposite spots for The Open, with Fichardt’s coming courtesy of his greater place within the Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) than Maas and Grace.
What’s subsequent?
The DP World Tour stays in South Africa for the Joburg Open, held at Houghton GC and dwell from Thursday on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
