Coetzee clinches maiden Big Easy IGT title
Coetzee went four-under with a birdie on the par five 12th and the momentum shifted in his favour with his fourth gain on 15.
Byron Coetzee holed a monster birdie putt on the 18th hole to overtake fellow KwaZulu-Natal rookie, Matt Saulez, and lift his first professional title on the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour in October.
In a thrilling back nine battle at Krugersdorp Golf Club, Coetzee and Saulez emerged as the front-runners and the pair were tied for the lead on five-under, playing the last hole in the 14th event.
The IGT Challenge Tour is the only developmental golf tour in South Africa that offers a year-long series of events that includes 54- and 72-hole tournaments with a 36-hole cut. As evidenced by the success of their alumni, The IGT Challenge Tour is the most proven avenue to the PGA Tours.
The 20-year-old Kloof golfer watched from the 18th tee box as Saulez closed with a par for a final round 68 and the clubhouse lead.
“I knew I needed a birdie to win, and the adrenaline was pumping,” the excited Coetzee recalled.
“I wanted to make sure I hit the fairway, so I went with a 6-iron and hit straight down the middle. I had 118 metres to the pin and I took a lob-wedge, but I didn’t strike it fully and the ball finished on the edge of the green. As I stood over that 35-foot putt, I just trusted my line and pace.
“That was the longest putt I’ve ever made and the most incredible feeling when it dropped. I’m really over the moon with this win. My family and my coach, Shaun Coetzee, have been very supportive on this journey in the pro ranks and it is the best feeling in the world to pay back their support this way.”
Coetzee shot 76 to Saulez’ 75 in the windy conditions on Day 1, but a six-under-par 66 in the second round boosted him to two-under and just two off the pace. Saulez was a further stroke back after carding 68 on Day 2.
Overnight leader, Jason Smith, began a backward spiral on the second hole and the trio tied for second. Leon Vorster, Desne van den Bergh and Eric Nel trod water as Saulez burst from the blocks with four birdies on the bounce.
Two further gains at seven and nine propelled the Durban Country Club golfer into the lead on seven-under, while Coetzee slowly closed the gap with birdies on four and seven.
While Saulez mixed three bogeys with a lone birdie on the back nine, Coetzee went four-under with a birdie on the par five 12th and the momentum shifted in his favour with his fourth gain on 15.
“I am really going to enjoy this win because it’s massive for me. I’ve climbed to 19th in the Road to Sunshine Tour rankings, so I’m in the Top 30 and that gets me a start in the Tour Championship next season, and I’m so much closer to the Top 6.”
The runner-up finish boosted Saulez to 16th in the standings. Gideon van der Vyfer returned a 69 to take third on four-under and Reinhardt Blaauw’s 69 earned him fourth on his own on three-under.
Dwayne Basson hung on to second place on the Transformation Road to Sunshine Tour Order of Merit with a tie for 21st, and remains safe in the running for a Sunshine Tour card next season.
* Written by Lali Stander on behalf of the Big Easy IGT Challenge Tour.
