Scotland’s Calum Hill claimed one of the most dramatic victories in the history of the Joburg Open when he won a three-man playoff at Houghton Golf Club on Sunday.
Under brooding Johannesburg thunderclouds, the sparks truly flew on the back nine of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament as Hill surged through the field with a final round of 62 to lead in the clubhouse on 14 under par, and was then joined on that total by South Africans Jacques Kruyswijk (who closed with a 66) and Shaun Norris (who signed for a 70).
Playing the par-four 18th as the first playoff hole, all three golfers parred the hole.
Then on the second playoff hole, Norris found the right fairway bunker off the tee and then hit his second into the water on his way to a double bogey. Kruyswijk bogeyed the hole, and Hill parred to claim his second DP World Tour title.
“I’m a little bit taken aback at the moment. I was quite far back at the start of the final round, and then played a great round of golf where a lot of putts went in. I’m a bit shocked, but delighted to come out with the trophy,” said Hill.
It was a tense start to the final round as Norris’s four-shot lead overnight was reduced to two with his back-to-back bogeys on the opening two holes, and with five players lining up behind him as his nearest challengers.
The closing holes provided plenty of drama.
Norris, tied for the lead with Hill, hit his second into the water on the 12th on his way to a double bogey. Hill missed a par putt on 16 to also make bogey. All of which left Dylan Frittelli coming off a bogey on 15 and finding himself tied for the lead with Hill. Kruyswijk then joined for a three-way tie for the lead after his birdie on 13.
Kruyswijk took the lead on his own on 14 under with a birdie on 14, but dropped a shot back with a bogey on 15. Hill then birdied 18 after a magnificent shot into the green, which kicked off the greenside bank and left him a little over a metre putt for birdie to set the clubhouse target at 14 under.
Kruyswijk birdied the 17th to join the playoff, and Norris made a tremendous putt for birdie on 18 to also force his way into the playoff.
“I thought we might need one or two more birdies. I just had to wait and see and fortunately -14 held up to get into a playoff, and then anything can happen. I’m just fortunate to come out on top,” said Hill. – Michael Vlismas
