Jaco Van Zyl recorded a top-three finish as Trevor Fisher Jnr reeled in George Coetzee to claim the Investec Cup.
Fisher’s one stroke victory over Jacques Blaauw in the Sunshine Tour tournament also saw him go home with the winner’s share of the South African Rand 10-million Bonus Pool.
“Look, it’s always nice to win, whatever you win,” said Fisher, “whether it’s a winter event on the Sunshine Tour or a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour. It’s another notch on the belt and it gives you confidence. But this is really life-changing, no question about it. I’m so thrilled to win.”
It was a closely fought final round as no fewer than five players had a chance of pulling off the victory.
Coetzee had the lead going into the final round and looked as if he was going to claim the win he needed to get into the Masters Tournament.
But a pair of double bogeys – the second almost catastrophic on the 12th as Fisher made birdie to hit the front decisively – derailed his victory charge.
Keith Horne fired a closing five under par 67, but a bogey on 17 after his tee shot went awry saw him slip out of contention in frustrating fashion after he had got to 15 under par with a genuine birdie opportunity awaiting him on 18.
And defending champion van Zyl had a brilliant tilt at retaining his title after ordinary opening rounds of 71 and 72. He closed with a 66 to go with his third round 65 at the Lost City, and came within two shots of forcing a play-off.
