Alfred Dunhill Championship – The debrief 

The DP World Tour’s South African swing continued last week at Leopard Creek Country Club. Here is everything you need to know from the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Strydom secures maiden DP World Tour win on home soil

Ockie Strydom claimed a career-changing maiden DP World Tour title on home soil as he produced a back-nine birdie blitz to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by two shots. The 37-year-old entered the final round in Malelane alongside overnight co-leader Scott Jamieson but, after a double bogey at the ninth saw him drop back into a share of the lead, he found his best form on the back nine, birdieing the tenth, 11th, 13th and 14th. That opened up a three-shot lead and he never looked back, signing for a 69 to finish at 18 under par.

Before this, Strydom had 19 runner-up finishes in his career and one victory on the Sunshine Tour. He becomes the second South African winner on the DP World Tour this season, following on from Thriston Lawrence at the Investec South African Open, while he is also the eighth home winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

"It's nice, I think my plans just changed a little bit.” said Strydom, who now has a two-year exemption on the DP World Tour and can look forward to teeing it up in the prestige Rolex Series events. "Everyone here, thank you. My host that had me this week, unbelievable, all credit to him; my wife, probably crying at home; my parents crying at home; my caddie - thanks a lot.”

New course records set at Leopard Creek

Victory for Strydom, who becomes the second first-time winner on Tour this season after England’s Dan Bradbury at the Joburg Open, came a day after he equalled the course record at Leopard Creek. A third round of 63 saw him climb alongside Jamieson – the man who a day earlier had set that record to hold a three-shot lead at the halfway stage. Such is the allure of playing at Leopard Creek, the feat was not lost on Scot Jamieson. “It’s a special place to hold the course record, hopefully it holds over the weekend,” he said, before Strydom joined him on the honours board.

Positive signs for Challenge Tour graduates

With one event in the calendar year left on the DP World Tour this week in Mauritius, there are reasons for optimism for some of the Challenge Tour graduates. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin surged up the leaderboard on the final day at Leopard Creek with a closing 66 to finish in a tie for 13th place at ten under par. McKibbin has registered three top 20s in his first three starts as a full card holder on the DP World Tour and risen to a career-high 297th on the Official World Golf Ranking. The 19-year-old climbs to 27th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex. Two places further back is 2022 Road to Mallorca Number One Nathan Kimsey after the Englishman finished in a share of 11th at the penultimate event of the year. Both will now hope to head into the new year with another encouraging performance at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, which returns after a two-year hiatus.

Burmester, Walters witness first hand rhino conservation measures

In advance of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Dean Burmester and Justin Walters were present to witness staff at the Kruger National Park dehorning rhinos. The anti-poaching technique is viewed as vital in helping to preserve the animal. South African duo Burmester and Walters are founders of the Birdies 4 Rhinos initiative, a fund that aligns sport and nature for rhino conservation through every birdie recorded by players involved.

Reflecting on the dehorning process, Walters said: “We have amazing people that are doing this on a daily basis, and I have just experienced it just now for the first time. But they are doing it day in day out to try and protect the species. I think that is very encouraging.”

Many leading professional golfers, including Major Champion Justin Rose and three-time DP World Tour winner Ryan Fox have thrown their support behind Birdies 4 Rhinos, which was set up over six years ago. “It’s great to have all the guys involved, a lot of the guys are playing well so we are very fortunate to have that and to see so many people supporting our cause is special,” Burmester added.

Spectacular wildlife

In addition to the golfing experience at Leopard Creek, one factor that makes the Alfred Dunhill Championship such a unique event is its proximity to wildlife. The course overlooks the fantastic Kruger National Park, one of the country’s biggest game reserves, which is home to the big five - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo. Leopard Creek’s par-five 13th is one of the most iconic holes in golf with the Crocodile River within shot of the players, who often venture out before and after rounds to catch a first-hand glimpse of some of nature’s giants during the week.