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2023-11-26 17:42:56
Burmester wins Joburg Open after flawless 64
South African Dean Burmester claimed his third European Tour title after a three-shot victory in the Joburg Open in Johannesburg on Sunday.
His last success was in the Tenerife Open two years ago and the 34-year-old also won the 2017 Tshwane Open.
Trailing compatriot Thriston Lawrence by three shots entering the final round in 31 degree Celsius heat, Burmester triumphed thanks to a flawless six-birdie 64 over the par-70 track.
Burmester birdied two holes on the front nine and four on the back to finish on 262, three strokes ahead of fellow South African Darren Fichardt, who also carded a final-round 64.
Don Bradbury from England also fired a 64 to came third and be the best foreigner in a leaderboard which had eight South Africans among the top 11.
Lawrence, a four-time European circuit winner, saw his lead disappear after a disastrous front nine, which included a double bogey and two bogeys.
Another double bogey on the second nine sealed his fate and he carded a five-over 75 to share seventh place with Malaysian Gavin Green.
The South African leg of the European Tour continues on Thursday with the first round of the South African Open. - AFP
2023-11-25 17:25:36
Lawrence has Joburg Open double in sight
Thriston Lawrence produced another masterclass of patience and control to earn a three-stroke lead going into Sunday’s final round of the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club.
On a hot day at Houghton that kept even the hadedas quiet, Lawrence signed for a third round of 67 to climb to 15 under par overall as he seeks to claim a second Joburg Open title following his win in 2021.
His nearest challenger is Dean Burmester on 12 under after he signed for a 68, while Jacques Kruyswijk and Nikhil Rama are well placed on 11 under par after respective rounds of 69 and 72.
After all the intensity of a Saturday in professional golf, Lawrence spoke with the calm resolve of a man who saw his plan fall into place.
"I had a job to do and I executed nicely," he said.
"I had a gameplan, and that was to try and play the exact same golf I did the first two days and I executed it. I stayed nice and patient. I could’ve probably gone lower than three under and there were a couple more putts I could’ve made, but it’s Saturday and the final group so it’s not always going to go your way. But it was still a job well done."
It was indeed a well-executed gameplan on a day which began with Lawrence one shot behind leader Rama.
The 22-year-old Rama, playing possibly the biggest third round of his professional career, did extremely well to recover from a double bogey at the opening hole and keep himself in contention.
Kruyswijk was equally resilient as he bogeyed two of his first three holes and then unleashed his frustration on a run of four birdies in six holes thereafter to fight his way back into the title chase.
And Lawrence looked the most comfortable of all, especially on his chip-in to save par on the eighth.
"I’m very happy with my game at the moment. I’ve learnt the last couple of years playing on these big stages that you need to stay patient. I’ve done a good job of forgetting about the bogeys and staying in the present. That was what I wanted to achieve today and I did that." - Michael Vlismas
2023-11-24 18:44:01
Rama ready to step into Joburg Open history
Nikhil Rama started playing golf because he felt left out as a young boy walking the fairways with his dad, uncles and cousins who played the game.
The 22-year-old South African will now go into the weekend of the Joburg Open with a one-stroke lead. And he certainly doesn’t feel left out anymore.
In another of the many golf fairytales in Joburg Open history, Rama shot his lowest competitive round as a professional – a bogey-free 62 – on Friday to lead this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event on 13 under par.
His nearest challenger is former champion Thriston Lawrence, one shot back following a 66. Dean Burmester added a 62 of his own to join Jacques Kruyswijk (64) right in the hunt, just three shots off the lead. But at the moment, this is all Rama’s story.
Raised in Johannesburg, Rama found his way to this point in his career via family golf, then playing SA Kids Golf tournaments representing Central Gauteng and competing in GolfRSA events before turning professional in 2020.
“I wasn’t much of a junior golfer, then I started working with Hendrik Buhrmann and my golf really started to improve in 2019. I turned pro and thought let’s see what happens,” he says.
The Sunshine Tour, recognising his talent, made him a member of their Papwa Sewgolum Class for transformation players on Tour, and this season has been a breakout one for Rama as he’s had six top-10s including fourth in the recent Vodacom Origins of Golf Final which secured him a place in the Joburg Open – a tournament which has always reserved place in its field for transformation golfers.
Investec, a patron of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, has also awarded Rama a sponsor’s invitation to compete in next week’s Investec South African Open. So it’s not hard to see how this weekend represents a potentially life-changing moment for Rama. As it was for Lawrence when he broke through here in 2021 and Dan Bradbury when he did the same in 2022. And judging by his golf on Friday – six birdies and a magnificent eagle two on the third of this par-70 course which his caddie Shannon knows extremely well – he’s absolutely ready for it.
“What can I say – I’m just really excited. I’m enjoying the pressure and the fans, and just trying to have fun. It will obviously be a little different being in the final group on Saturday. But I’ll play some Fortnite with friends tonight and we’ll see how it goes on Saturday.”
This weekend, the boy who once felt left out could become the man who finds a new home in world golf.
- Michael Vlismas
2023-11-24 17:36:45
2023-11-24 16:09:20
2023-11-24 14:30:15
2023-11-24 14:29:52
2023-11-24 12:34:12
2023-11-23 18:36:25
Lawrence leads the way in Johannesburg
Thriston Lawrence matched the lowest round of his DP World Tour career with a stunning 62 to take a three-shot lead after day one of the Joburg Open.
The South African made history at this event two years ago as he became the first winner of the DP World Tour era with his maiden victory on Tour.
He has since won three more times, securing the 2022 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award in the process, and he was once again making waves in a new era as the Opening Swing got under way.
Another South African in World Number 1,214 Nikhil Rama was his nearest challenger at Houghton Golf Club, one clear of a group of ten players that included defending champion Dan Bradbury and former Ryder Cup players Stephen Gallacher and Andy Sullivan.
The last time Lawrence started with a 62 was his victory at the 2022 Omega European Masters and he believes the putter could be the key to history repeating itself and him making it win number five on Sunday.
"The putter was hot and I just felt like I was reading them really nicely," he said. "The speed was good and compared to last year the greens are quite firm so you can play some nice shots and coming in with an eight iron you can plan the shot with all the undulations on these greens.
"I got the wind right today, I was pin high quite a few times and the proximity to the greens was good as well. The putter was on fire so I'm quite happy with the opening round.
"I had a fun day with the guys out there, they both played well, they didn't make as many putts as I did but all in all a good day."
- DP World Tour
2023-11-23 16:49:53
2023-11-23 12:55:37
2023-11-23 12:50:16South Africa's Nikhil Rama grabs the early clubhouse lead at 5-under.2023-11-23 10:50:10
