He had a five-stroke lead heading into the final round on Wednesday, and Ryan van der Klis gave his chasers every chance of hauling him in before he ran out a one-stroke winner in the Bushveld Tour’s Blue Label Invitational #4 at Wanderers Golf Club.

After opening rounds of four-under-par 67 and seven-under-par 64, the amateur Van der Klis closed with a four-over-par 75 as fellow-amateurs Jonathan Ackerman and Rees Emmanuel carded rounds of 69 and level-par 71 respectively to fall just one shot short of forcing a play-off.

Van der Klis made three bogeys and a birdie on each of the nines as he barely held on for the victory.

A shot furter back from the amateurs on five-under-par were professionals Eric Wowor and Jaden Deltel in a share of fourth, with Louis Liebenberg in sixth on one-under-par.

Van der Klis moved to fifth on the Bushveld Tour Order of Merit, while Deltel increased his lead at the top of that list.