Dean Burmester took his second win of the year and added his name to one of the most prestigious trophies in South African golf when he won the 86th PGA championship at St Francis Links on Sunday.
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Burmester said goodbye with an incredible final round of 65 – including a first nine of 29 – and won with two strokes to 17 under par.
“That is massive. I’ve been close to winning this a couple of times. I’ve always wanted to put my name on this trophy with many of the game’s legends and had high expectations for this week. I’m just glad I managed to do what I came here to do. “ said Dean Burmester, who lost to Jaco van Zyl in a 2016 playoff for the title.
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It crowns a very important year for Burmester, in which he won his second European Tour title at the Tenerife Open in May, won the second oldest professional tournament in South Africa and recently celebrated the birth of his second child.
“It was fantastic and hopefully it can go on and I can show that shape at some of the biggest events in the world. I just want my family to have a good life with my golf. “
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Pieter Moolman finished second at 15 under par with a final round of 66, while former South African PGA Championship winner Louis de Jager finished third at 14 under par, also with a final round of 66. Overnight leaders Steve Surry from England finished fourth among 13-under with 72.
Dean Burmester tied the lead three shots down the final lap and was in great shape on the top nine as he was beaten by six by his first six holes, then added another birdie on the eighth to add in 29 turn. He parried his way the entire way to 17th par-three, where he made his only bogey of the round, and then 18th birdiete to secure the title.
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“I like to make a flyer like this. I played flawless golf and the putts went to the front nine. They didn’t fall on the second nine, however. I pushed the par putt to 17 and expected it to break because the green is sloping so much so I don’t know what happened there. Fortunately, the golf gods overlooked me on the 18th. “
The Sunshine Tour is now preparing for its big events sanctioned by the European Tour, starting with the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club from November 25th to 28th.
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