Nail-biting playoff decides SunBet Challenge title at Umhlali Country Club
The returning SunBet Challenge saw Kloof's Martin Rohwer claim his third individual Sunshine Tour victory on Friday.
A thrilling three-hole playoff was needed to decide the winner as the Sunshine Tour visited Umhlali Country Club last week.
The returning SunBet Challenge hosted by Sibaya saw Kloof’s Martin Rohwer claim his third individual Sunshine Tour victory after he posted an early clubhouse lead on Friday.
Rohwer had mixed fortunes on the first two days in difficult, windy conditions, posting scores of 69 (-2) and 74 (+3) to squeak through on the +1 cut line.
But he saved his best golf for the crucial final day and was aided by favourable morning conditions before the wind again picked up for the overnight leaders in the afternoon.
Rohwer carded six birdies and an eagle alongside two bogeys to shoot a blistering 65 which left him at -5 overall.
Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour.
“The win never crossed my mind and I was just thinking about getting a low round and moving as high up the leader board as possible,” said Rohwer.
“I made a really nice putt for eagle on the par-four 14th and then I chipped in for birdie on the 15th, and that really threw me into contention. I then just tried to hold on and post something.”
Overnight leader Jonathan Broomhead teed off at -7 on Friday, but three bogeys in the first four holes left him flailing and he would card a closing 76.
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Second-placed Christiaan Burke looked to have solidified the lead when a run of three birdies in a row on holes 9-11 got him to -8 with seven holes to play.
Despite some decent scrambling down the final stretch however, Burke would still add bogeys on holes 14, 16 and 18 to finish tied with Rohwer.
The duo then faced a playoff format which saw them play the par-3 18th until a winner was crowned.
Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour.
Burke appeared to have the early ascendancy when he hit the green on the first playoff hole while Rohwer found the front-right greenside bunker.
Rohwer made a 20-footer for par however and Burke’s two-putt par saw them trek back to the tee.
On playoff hole two, it was Burke who missed the green but got up-and-down for par, while Rohwer made his par after two putts.
Burke hit first on the final playoff hole and would miss long and left to leave him amongst the trees and facing a difficult chip.
He could not get up-and-down and made bogey.
Rohwer hit a steady 7-iron to the middle of the green and had two putts from 15 foot to win.
A good lag putt left him with a tap-in and he could finally claim victory, hours after he had finished his final round.
“It has been a pretty solid season. I have finished third twice, had another top-10, and I have only missed two cuts. But I am stoked to win and hopefully I can take this form into the summer swing and the rest of the year,” he said.
Ballito had some local representation in the event, with Mckenna Performance Golf Academy coach Emile Steinmann finishing at +3 and A2B Golf Academy coach Blanche Lamprecht posting +2 after making the cut.
Local golfers also had a chance to join in on the action in a two day better ball Stableford Pro-Am competition before the main event.
Colin Naidoo won with professional Keegan Mclachlan on Monday with 48 points, while Kavish Naidoo and professional Michael Hollick claimed the Tuesday spoils on 45 points.
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