George Coetzee became the latest multiple winner of the South African PGA Championship on Sunday when he carded a four-under-par 68 to win the title for the second time – this time at St Francis Links 11 years after his first win.
He joins multiple winners of the second-oldest professional title in South African golf after the South African Open Championship, including – from the modern era – Louis Oosthuizen, Michiel Bothma and Jaco van Zyl. Earlier multiple winners include Ernie Els, Dale Hayes and Gary Player.
In a cool, calm and collected display, Coetzee made two eagles, three birdies and two bogeys as he held off all challengers. In the end, with a bogey on his last hole, 19-year-old Casey Jarvis was the man who finished closest to Coetzee, three shots back on 12-under-par after he carded an adventurous closing 69 with seven birdies and four bogeys.
A further shot back in a share of third on 11-under were Hennie Otto and Jake Redman, both of who are rounding nicely into form ahead of the forthcoming Sunshine Tour summer tournaments co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour.
Coetzee took a one-stroke lead into the final round, which meant he had a target on his back from the word go, but it was a mature Coetzee who dealt with those pressures after a bogey on the second hole with what has become typical Coetzee laid-back calmness. He responded to that poor start with an eagle on the third as he sank a 15-footer on the par-five. But he was back to level-par with a bogey on the fourth.
A birdie on the fifth settled him down, and a hole-out eagle two on the 10th set him on his way home. Although he bogeyed 11, birdies on 12 and 13 saw him to safety. Although Jarvis got within one stroke as the youngster headed up 18, it always felt likely that Coetzee had something in reserve.
It was Coetzee’s 14th Sunshine Tour title, and his second of the 2022-23 season. It’s also one that sets him up for a tilt at the Nedbank Golf Challenge next week, and perhaps even the South African Open Championship.
As much as he enjoyed adding his name to the big PGA Championship trophy a second time, getting his name even once on the other two would underline how good he’s been in South Africa.
