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ZIMBABWEAN Benjamin Follett-Smith started the new year on a bright note after he won his maiden Challenge Tour title by capturing the Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club in South Africa on Sunday.
The former Mississippi State University student posted a two under par final round of 70 to finish on 15-under-par overall after the four rounds.
Follet-Smith was a stroke ahead of South African Jaco van Zyl and Frenchman Ugo Coussaud who had set the target after a six under 66.
The 28-year-old, who won the Cape Town Open in 2019 before it became co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the Challenge Tour, made a crucial par save on the 17th hole to stay ahead of the chasing pack.
Follett-Smith was delighted to secure his second victory in Cape Town and he is now leading the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
“This event has always been special for me,” he said. “Cape Town is one of the best places in Southern Africa and I love coming back here. I have such good memories from 2019 and I always feel comfortable at Royal Cape.
“Today was an anxious round for me and I think that up and down for par on 17 proved to be the key moment so I’m very happy with that,” he told Sunshine Tour.
Follett-Smith admitted he has struggled to find a level of consistency over the last two years but credited a combination of self-belief and hard work for his recent upturn in form.
“The last couple of years have been tough so I’m really proud of how I’ve managed to turn things around,” he said. “In my first year on the Sunshine Tour I picked up a win and Rookie of the Year but since then I have really struggled. I realised how important practice is and since then I’ve just worked harder and harder and now I’m starting to gain confidence again.
“Having my friends and family here this week was amazing and I just want to say thank you to the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour for coming together and putting on such a terrific event at this historic golf club.”
Englishman Alfie Plant posted a six under par round of 66 to finish fourth on 13 under alongside Italian Andrea Pavan and South African Martin Vorster.
South Africans Darren Fichardt, Brandon Stone and Dylan Mostert shared seventh place on 12 under with Irishman Conor Purcell, Switzerland’s Benjamin Rusch and Spaniards Manuel Elvira and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez.
The Road to Mallorca will now travel to George for the Dimension Data Pro-Am from February 9-12, the second of four consecutive co-sanctioned events with the Sunshine Tour.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s top professional golfer Scott Vincent finished his first Asian Tour tournament tied on position 42 after a four-under-par overall score in the US$5 million purse PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investments Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on Sunday.
Vincent had rounds of 66, 69, 72 and 69 for a total four-under-par to pocket US$27 500.
It was Vincent’s first tournament in two months and the Zimbabwean did not disappoint.
The Zimbabwean was among the leaders going into yesterday’s final round and was tied with Sabastian Munoz, Sttefano Mazolli and Caneron Tringate.
A third round level par 72 was followed by a perfect 69.
Vincent will hardly take a break as he is heading to the International Series Oman this Thursday at Al Mouj Golf Club.
Mexico’s Abraham Ancer held on to his lead from start to finish as won the tournament at 19-under-par and walked home US$1 million.
Ancer had a last round of two-under-70 after posting a flawless six-under-par 64 during the third round.
American Cameron Young, who shot a 65 in the third round, completed the fourth round with a one-under-par to sit in second place, three strokes back, while Lucas Herbert from Australia and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana were a distant four and five shots behind the leader for third and fourth places respectively.
Ancer, the diminutive golfer with the big game, was bidding to become the first player to win this tournament wire-to-wire and took another important step towards that on Sunday with an accomplished round, devoid of dropped shots.
Three birdies on the front and three on the back, including on the 18th, allowed him to keep his big hitting playing partner Young at bay.
Said Ancer: “Another very solid round. Happy with no dropped shots. That’s always my goal. On a golf course like this where it’s blowing pretty good, I’m really, really happy.” — Sunshine Tour/ Sports Reporter
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