From Sunshine Tour

Jacques Kruyswijk won his first Sunshine Tour title in the Cape and he got engaged in the Cape. So it seemed hardly surprising that a windy final round and a two-hole play-off should go his way as he won the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Devonvale Golf & Wine Estate on Sunday.

In the tough conditions of a strong wind sweeping through the winelands, Kruyswijk beat George Coetzee with a par on the second hole of their play-off to claim the fourth Sunshine Tour title of his career. It was also the first of his victories his mother was able to witness in person.

“It’s always special to win. Cape Town has always been good to me, and it was nice to come out on top this week,” said Kruyswijk.

Kruyswijk led by two shots going into the final round but he and Coetzee were tied as they headed into a difficult back nine. Kruyswijk was one ahead playing the par-four 18th straight into the wind, and he made double-bogey while Coetzee bogeyed the hole for them to finish regulation play tied on 10-under-par with rounds of 73 and 71 respectively.

Both parred the 18th as the first play-off hole, before Kruyswijk took the title.

“I was fresh off a double-bogey going into the play-off, which is never great. It felt like I threw it away there, but that last hole was playing ridiculously tough. I pulled myself together on the tee-off and knew I still had a chance. I kept a strong mindset. I was hoping to bank on my experience today and I think it showed quite a lot on certain holes. Kudos to George. What a great battle out there. His experience also showed. But man, I’m happy to come out on top this week.”

The victory is Kruyswijk’s second in the Vodacom Origins of Golf series.

Gabrielle Venter finished as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on four-over-par with a final round of 77.