White River Country Club golfer Jaco van der Watt won his club’s open championship from Mbombela Golf Club’s Ruan Groenewald by two strokes on Sunday.

Van der Watt shot two over par 144 over 36 holes to claim the title.

Sixty-eight players from as far afield as Highlands Gate, Cathedral Peak and Port Shepstone entered.

The open championship was played in perfect weather. Although there was a bite in the early morning air, the players enjoyed a warm winter’s day on the immaculate course.

After the first round, Groenewald held a one-shot lead over Van der Watt.

The Mbombela pro shot one under par 70 in the morning round. Van der Watt was in the clubhouse for lunch one stroke back, on level par 71.

After going out in the second round, Groenewald increased his lead to two strokes over Van der Watt.

Groenewald seemed on track for the title, starting the back nine on his second round with a birdie on the 10th. His tournament was then spoiled with bogeys on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th holes.

Despite finishing the open championship with two pars, the pro golfer carded 41 for the last nine holes and 76 for his second round.

Van der Watt shot a 73 on his second round, which started with a bogey, but included two birdies.

He double-bogeyed the final hole, but his tournament total of 144 was enough to win the championship.

Barberton Golf Club’s Rikus Nel was third on 149.

The other top 10 places were
• Fourth: Jarryd Elliott (Witbank Golf Club): 150
• T5th: Eddie Wilken (Malelane Golf Club); Dumisa Gama (Barberton Golf Club): 152
• T7th: Pieter-André van der Merwe (Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club); Nicholas Stawski (White River Country Club): 153
• T9th: Thabo Dube (Kambaku Golf Club); Johan Prinsloo Jr (Kambaku Golf Club); Janneman Combrink (Malelane Golf Club): 155.