Life-changing Alfred Dunhill Championship win for Ockie Strydom

Ockie Strydom claimed a life-changing maiden victory on the DP World Tour when he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship by two shots at Leopard Creek on Sunday.

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Strydom closed with a 69 to win on 18-under par.

Adrian Otaegui took second place on 16-under with a final round of 68, while Laurie Canter finished third on 15-under with a 64.

“To sink the winning putt on such a prestigious green as this 18th is amazing for me. Walking onto this island green is always special. It’s something I always wanted to achieve. My dad has also always wanted me to win one of these,” said a delighted Strydom, who before this had 19 runner-up finishes in his career.

“It feels good. I’ve finally done it. To do it on Leopard Creek as well is something special.”

This is by far the biggest victory of his career and significantly changes his plans for the coming season.

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“This changes my life. It’s two years on the DP World Tour now. It will be tough with the wife at home and the kids, but in the long run it will be better for them as well.”

Strydom was tied for the lead with Scott Jamieson on 15-under going into the final round. The South African was locked in a battle for the lead on Sunday, and after a double bogey on the par-four ninth he dropped back into the chasing pack.

A number of other players were also making their presence felt at the top of the leaderboard. Canter came through the field and signed for a closing 64 including four straight birdies over the turn. Otaegui, MJ Daffue and Louis Oosthuizen were also all jostling into a threatening position.

But Strydom held his nerve and then produced a scoring burst of four birdies in his first five holes on the back nine that pulled him three shots clear of the field on 18 under par and walking down the last. Otaegui birdied the last while Strydom parred, but the final result was already beyond question.

“It was hard work and a lot of mental toughness that I needed to work on. Jaris my caddie kept me in the game out there. But I’ve also been in this situation quite a lot and I know how to manage it. The double on nine cost me and immediately I made those birdies thereafter. Then I knew I could just play my own game again. To have a three-shot lead playing the 18th calmed the nerves quite a bit.”

Final round scores in the DP World Tour (European Tour) Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek CC, on Sunday

270 – Ockie Strydom 68 70 63 69

272 – Adrian Otaegui 70 69 65 68

273 – Laurie Canter 68 69 72 64

274 – Aaron Cockerill 70 65 70 69, Branden Grace 67 70 67 70, Oliver Bekker 69 66 68 71

275 – Louis Oosthuizen 70 66 71 68, Dean Burmester 65 70 68 72

276 – David Ravetto 67 67 73 69, MJ Daffue 69 66 72 69

277 – Nathan Kimsey 70 64 74 69, Scott Jamieson 68 63 70 76

278 – Tom McKibbin 68 73 71 66, George Coetzee 73 68 67 70, Joost Luiten 69 70 69 70, Dylan Frittelli 70 66 68 74

279 – Christiaan Maas 71 70 70 68, JC Ritchie 72 66 72 69, Joshua Lee 71 69 69 70, Eddie Pepperell 69 65 73 72, Ross Fisher 71 65 71 72

280 – Darren Fichardt 67 70 74 69, Kristian Krogh Johannessen 68 72 71 69, Alexander Knappe 68 68 72 72, Bryce Easton 69 69 70 72

281 – Matthew Southgate 71 71 70 69, Jayden Schaper 69 68 72 72, Christiaan Bezuidenhout 70 72 67 72, Daniel Brown 71 70 73 67, Ryo Hisatsune 71 72 71 67, Dale Whitnell 69 68 66 78

282 – Matthew Baldwin 72 70 69 71, Niklas Norgaard Moller 70 71 70 71, Gary Hurley 73 68 71 70, Ernie Els 70 69 71 72

283 – Thriston Lawrence 69 71 72 71, Jaco Ahlers 67 73 71 72, Lukas Nemecz 66 70 74 73, Daniel van Tonder 72 67 71 73, Chase Hanna 74 69 71 69

284 – Jean Hugo 70 72 70 72, Scott Vincent 70 72 71 71, Santiago Tarrio 69 69 76 70, Jaco Prinsloo 70 68 70 76

285 – Wynand Dingle 70 67 74 74, Jacques Blaauw 73 68 69 75

286 – Joachim B. Hansen 73 68 72 73, Dylan Mostert 70 65 79 72, Marcel Siem 71 72 71 72

287 – Grant Forrest 72 70 74 71, Wilco Nienaber 68 73 67 79

288 – Shaun Norris 71 70 72 75, JJ Senekal 70 70 74 74, Jorge Campillo 69 69 71 79, CJ du Plessis 72 70 73 73, Merrick Bremner 78 65 72 73, Jbe’ Kruger 71 72 74 71

289 – James Hart du Preez 70 69 73 77, John Axelsen 75 66 72 76, Martin Simonsen 72 70 72 75, Sami Valimaki 74 69 71 75, Adam Breen 71 72 74 72

290 – Neil Schietekat 70 72 74 74, Dan Bradbury 74 68 75 73

291 – Jovan Rebula 70 72 75 74, Luke Jerling 70 72 76 73, Combrinck Smit 72 71 76 72

292 – Alejandro Canizares 69 69 73 81, Kyle De Beer 72 70 75 75, Jens Fahrbring 70 72 77 73

293 – Tobias Eden 68 74 76 75, Erik van Rooyen 69 72 78 74, Justin Walters 72 70 79 72

294 – Nick Bachem 72 71 75 76

298 – Wil Besseling 71 72 76 79

304 – Deon Germishuys 67 72 80 85