Malelane Golf Club’s Jan Combrink is the 2021 Adiomart Mpumalanga Closed golf champion.

Combrink beat Behn Heyns of Middelburg Country Club on the second play-off hole after the two were tied on two over par after 36 holes.

Combrink finished the 36 holes at Mbombela Golf Club on Sunday on 144 strokes.

It was his remarkable first round of 69 (two under par) that put him in a strong position to take the title. He made four birdies, 12 pars and two bogeys on the first 18 holes. Combrink made a brilliant birdie on the longest hole on the course, the par five, 495-metre 14th.

He completed his second round in 75 shots, or four over par.

Double bogies on the third and sixth put him under pressure. When he bogeyed the 10th it seemed the championship might be slipping from his grasp, but he kept a cool head and completed the back nine in 35 stokes, with birdies on the 11th and 14th.

Heyns also finished on two over par. He was the most-consistent player of the day, completing two rounds of 72 strokes each.

Had he not bogeyed his final hole of the tournament, it would not have gone to a play-off and Heyns would have won in regulation play.

Rikus Nel of Barberton Golf Club was third on +4, with a gross score of 146.

Other top-10 results:

4th: Corné Olivier; Mbombela Golf Club; 147
5th: Anton Steenkamp; Mbombela Golf Club; 148
6th: Dean Hall; Graceland Country Club; 149
T7th: Jarryd Elliott; Bakenveld Golf Estate. Sarel van Heerden; Witbank Golf Club; 150
9th: Brian Naidoo; Walker Park Golf Club; 151
T10th: Eddie Wilken; Malelane Golf Club. Stephan Potgieter; Mbombela Golf Club. Alex Pieterse; Witbank Golf Club. Neville Meyer; Malelane Golf Club. Thami Ngobeni; Kambaku Golf Club; 152.