JC Ritchie successfully defended his Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open title after holing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole for a one-stroke victory at Royal Cape Golf Club.
The South African, who defeated countryman Jacques Blaauw in a play-off last year, retained his crown by posting a four under par round of 68 to reach 18 under par, one clear of Belgium’s Christopher Mivis, who raced through the field on the final day to set the target at 17 under par.
It was Ritchie, however, who prevailed by responding to back-to-back dropped shots at the 13th and 14th with birdies at the 16th and 18th to move to second position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and successfully defend a title for the second time in his career.
“Words can’t describe this feeling, it’s awesome,” he said. “For how I felt on the golf course the last two days and to come out on top, it means everything to me.
“I didn’t feel great. I wasn’t hitting the ball my best up until about Friday, when I felt unbelievable about my game. Then on Saturday, the wind threw me off a little, made a couple of bad shots and started feeling uncomfortable. I went and did some important work yesterday and I managed to hit the important shots well and managed to give myself a chance down 18.
“I did not have the energy for a play-off. I don’t think I made a long putt all week, so I thought it was time to make one.
“It’s special to have that under your belt to say you’ve been able to defend titles, especially multiple times, it’s really special to do that.”
The 27-year-old narrowly missed out on a DP World Tour card in 2021, despite winning in Cape Town at the start of last year, but hopes the extended run of events in South Africa this year will allow him to steal a march on his competitors.
“It’s brilliant to be able to get up there really quick,” he said. “I’m glad we have a couple more events in South Africa than last year. To get the season started off well, especially at home, means the rest of the year could be a bit more of a breeze.
“I think we have a lot of brilliant players down here who don’t have the financial support to get to the Challenge Tour or the main Tours and to Q Schools and so on, so to have these events here, with the collaboration between the Sunshine Tour, Challenge Tour, and DP World Tour, it’s so special for us as players.”
Mivis posted a bogey-free six under par round of 66 to claim second place, his best finish since 2017, two shots clear of overnight leader Tom McKibbin, who carded a one over par closing round of 73, and South African duo Bryce Easton and Zander Lombard, who all shared third place on 15 under par.
Spaniard Ivan Cantero Gutierrez shared sixth place with South Africa’s Neil Schietekat on 14 under, while New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, French duo Clément Sordet and Gary Stal, Italy’s Matteo Manassero and Englishman Jamie Rutherford finished in a tie for eighth place on 13 under par.
Germany’s Alexander Knappe still leads the Road to Mallorca Rankings following his victory at the season-opening Dimension Data Pro-Am, while Ritchie occupies second place with his triumph in the Mother City following his fourth place at Fancourt Golf Estate last week. Hillier’s second top ten in as many weeks means he is third on the Rankings, with Mivis and Easton completing the top five.
The Road to Mallorca now makes the trip to Durban for the Jonsson Workwear Open, taking place at Durban Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Golf Club from February 24-27, 2022.
