Moolman wins Fortress Invitational
This is his first win on the Sunshine Tour.
Pieter Moolman claimed his maiden victory on the Sunshine Tour when he beat Jayden Schaper in a playoff to win the inaugural Fortress Invitational at Ebotse Links on October 9.
Moolman started the final round with three shots behind Schaper. As he reached the final hole in regulation play, he was three-under for his round, having mixed five birdies with two bogeys and looked like falling just short on 12-under-par as Schaper was already on 14-under-par.
But the 31-year-old Moolman hit an excellent drive and a superb approach shot on the par-five 18th to 10 feet from the hole and nailed the eagle putt to vault to 14-under.
Schaper then bogeyed the par-four 17th but made birdie at the last to force a playoff with an excellent up-and-down after short-siding himself.
Moolman again hit a brilliant second in the playoff, finishing just off the green after being in the semi-rough on a mound. He would chip and sink a four-foot putt for birdie, while Schaper was unfortunate that his approach shot took a hard first bounce and ran through the green. The 21-year-old then missed his 10-footer for birdie, handing Moolman the win.
“I’ve lost a few times in these situations, but I’ve played better golf a few times than I did today,” Moolman said.
“So to get over the line is special and it shows that it does not take a perfect performance to win. It’s more mental, about believing you can still put a score on the board if you’re playing average golf when your swing is not there. I just had to stay in the moment and commit to what I was doing, take it shot for shot.”
Schaper will look back on a level-par back nine, which featured bogeys at the par-three 11th and the penultimate hole, as having cost him, but he showed tremendous determination and character in birdieing the last hole to get into the playoff.
For Moolman, who like Schaper is based in Benoni and knows the Ebotse Links well, the win will give him great confidence heading into the big summer events.
He has finished runner-up twice before this year, including at the Tour Championship at nearby Serengeti Estate.
“I’ve been playing solid golf for a while and I played solid enough the whole week. I was just trying to give myself opportunities, keep the ball in play and give myself a chance,” he said.
“Finishing second at the Wild Coast a few weeks back, I made some mistakes down the back nine, but I learnt from that and how to stay strong. Now that I’ve won, you start believing you can win again and that you belong here. I’m looking forward to the summer events,” added Moolman.
Steven Brown, CEO of Fortress Real Estate, said: “A huge congratulations to Moolman on his first win. The level of play has been brilliant. It’s been so impressive to watch the professionals shoot the low scores we have seen over the last three days on such a challenging course.
“Ebotse Links have been great hosts throughout the tournament and nothing has been too much trouble. We have thoroughly enjoyed our first year of sponsorship of the Fortress Invitational and helping to power growth in golf in South Africa.”
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