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ZIMBABWE-BORN South African professional Dean Burmester claimed his second victory of the year and added his name to one of the most prestigious trophies on the circuit.
He won the 86th SA PGA Championship at St Francis Links on Sunday.
Burmester signed off with a final round of 65 — including a front nine of 29 — to win by two shots on 17-under par.
“This is massive. I’ve come close to winning this a couple of times before. I’ve always wanted to get my name on this trophy with a lot of the legends of the game, and I had high expectations for this week.
“I’m just glad I managed to do what I came here to do,” said Burmester, who lost in a playoff for this title to Jaco van Zyl in 2016.
It caps what has been a highly significant year for Burmester in which he won his second European Tour title in May’s Tenerife Open, won the second oldest professional tournament in South Africa, and recently celebrated the birth of his second child.
“It’s been fantastic and hopefully it can continue and I can show this form in some of the biggest events in the world. I just want to give my family a good life through my golf.”
Burmester was born Mutare before moving to South Africa, where the family settled in Bloemfontein.
Sporting talent runs in the family for Burmester — his father Mark played international cricket for Zimbabwe while his mother Michelle is a talented golfer who holds the women’s course record at Royal Harare Golf Club, his home course.
Pieter Moolman took second place on 15-under par with a closing 66, while former South African PGA Championship winner Louis de Jager finished third on 14-under par, also with a final round of 66.
Overnight leader Steve Surry of England took fourth place on 13-under with a 72.
The Sunshine Tour now prepares for its major European Tour co-sanctioned events, beginning with the Joburg Open at Randpark Golf Club from November 25-28. — Zim Sport Live
Online Reporter