Under looming Johannesburg thunderclouds, the final round of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament delivered electrifying action. 

Hill surged through the field with a stunning eight-under-par 62, setting the clubhouse target at 14 under. He was later joined at the top of the leaderboard by South Africans Jacques Kruyswijk, who carded a four-under-par 66, and Shaun Norris, who struggled to a level-par 70 after starting the day with a four-shot lead.

Calum Hill. Photo: Sunshine Tour

The trio headed to the par-four 18th for the first playoff hole, where all three made par.

On the second playoff hole, Norris found the right fairway bunker off the tee and then hit his second shot into the water, leading to a costly double bogey. Kruyswijk made a bogey, while Hill held his nerve to make par and claim his second DP World Tour title.

“I’m a little taken aback at the moment,” said Hill. “I was quite far back at the start of the final round, but I played a great round of golf where a lot of putts dropped. I’m a bit shocked, but delighted to come away with the trophy.

“I thought we might need one or two more birdies. I just had to wait and see, and fortunately, 14 under was enough to get into a playoff—then anything can happen. I’m just grateful to have come out on top.”

The final round got off to a tense start as Norris’s four-shot overnight lead was cut to two after back-to-back bogeys on the opening two holes. Five players were lined up behind him, ready to challenge for the title.

The closing stretch provided plenty of drama. With Hill and Norris tied for the lead, Norris found the water on the 12th, resulting in a double bogey. Hill then missed a par putt on the 16th, also dropping a shot. Meanwhile, Dylan Frittelli, coming off a bogey on the 15th, moved into a share of the lead with Hill. 

Jacques Kruyswijk. Photo: Sunshine Tour

Kruyswijk then birdied the 13th to create a three-way tie at the top. Kruyswijk took the outright lead at 14 under with a birdie on the 14th, only to drop a shot with a bogey on the 15th. 

Hill responded with a superb approach on the 18th, which took a fortunate bounce off the greenside bank, leaving him just over a metre for birdie—enough to set the clubhouse target at 14 under.

Kruyswijk birdied the 17th to force his way into the playoff, while Norris drained a brilliant birdie putt on the 18th to join them in the decider.

The tournament has brought a close to the international swing, including the Kenya Open and the South African Open at the Durban Country Club, which Dylan Naidoo won.

 OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh