George Coetzee wins Joburg Open

Home player George Coetzee claimed his first European Tour title with a three shot victory in the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club in South Africa.

George Coetzee wins Joburg Open (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Home player George Coetzee claimed his first European Tour title with a three shot victory in the Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club in South Africa.

Coetzee, who had 24 top-10 finishes to his name on the European Tour prior to this week, secured the win in his 107th event on the circuit.

"I don't know what I'm feeling," he said. "I've been waiting a while and I started doubting, so I'm very happy."

Coetzee began the final round four strokes behind compatriots Justin Walters and Thomas Aiken. But the 27-year-old birdied all three par fives on the front nine then birdied the 10th hole to move to the front of the pack.

He saved par on the 11th, then an errant tee shot on the 15th rebounded off a tree and ended back on the fairway. From there he found the green and holed out for another birdie. Three pars to finish and a clubhouse total of 19-under-par was set.

Walters had a chance to match that number, but needed an eagle at the home hole. He couldn't manage it and the win was Coetzee's.

There was consolation for Walters in that, together with Coetzee and Jin Jeong of South Korea, he has earned a place in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool this July.

"It's the Major we've all dreamed of playing in since we were kids," Walters said.

Tyrrell Hatton of England closed with a 66 to tie Walters and Jeong for second place. He missed out on one of the three Open invites because his World Ranking of 276th was lower than that of Jeong and Walters.

The European Tour remains in South Africa this week for the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club.

Joburg Open Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC, Johannesburg, South Africa Feb 6-9, purse €1,300,000

1   George Coetzee (RSA)   65   68   69   66   268   €206,050 T2   Tyrrell Hatton (Eng)   67   69   69   66   271   €101,097 T2   Jin Jeong (Kor)      65   69   66   71   271   €101,097 T2   Justin Walters (RSA)   64   70   64   73   271   €101,097 T5   Thomas Aiken (RSA)   70   65   63   74   272   €42,510 T5   Matthew Baldwin (Eng)   68   69   68   67   272   €42,510 T5   Alvaro Quiros (Esp)   69   68   69   66   272   €42,510 T5   Andy Sullivan (Eng)   66   72   69   65   272   €42,510 9   Danie Van Tonder (RSA) 65   72   69   67   273   €28,080 T10   Seve Benson (Eng)   68   68   70   68   274   €21,407 T10   Robert Jan-Derksen (Ned) 65   74   67   68   274   €21,407 T10   Ross Fisher (Eng)      69   69   68   68   274   €21,407 T10   David Horsey (Eng)   70   63   70   71   274   €21,407 T10   Roope Kakko (Fin)   70   64   67   73   274   €21,407 T10   Anthony Wall (Eng)   69   70   66   69   274   €21,407

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage Where next? PGA Tour - Jimmy Walker wins Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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