Altin van der Merwe claimed his maiden Sunshine Tour title at the FBC ZIM Open on Sunday with a four-stroke triumph.

The former Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year kept himself at the top of the leaderboard with a controlled round which saw the field kept at bay throughout.

Van Der Merwe led by four strokes going into the final round and closed with a 68 to add his name to a list of former champions of this tournament that includes Major winners and world number ones.

“I’m very pleased. First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to my wife. This is her first Mother’s Day and I’ll see her tonight and see if I can treat her,” said Van Der Merwe.

In a powerful statement about the future of South African golf, GolfRSA amateur Andries van der Vyver, winner of the Zimbabwe Junior Open, closed with a three-under-par 69 to share seventh place on 11 under par and finish as the leading amateur.