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A golf ball and club seen at a tee off
South African golfer, Shaun Norris who mainly campaigns on the Japanese Tour, overcame a six-stroke deficit at the start of the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in Malelane to win the tournament by a single shot.
The 42-year-old finished on 13-under-par for the tournament, outlasting a group of three players who chased him all the way to the finish.
Norris had to attack from the start if he wanted to catch the leaders and an eagle on the 2nd hole and a birdie on 6 gave him a solid start.
He had a minor setback on the 7th hole where he dropped a shot, but steadied the ship immediately getting the shot back on 8, while he carded 3 more birdies on the back 9.
And the homeward stretch was where the tournament was won and lost.
Norris set the clubhouse target of 13-under thanks to a 5-under-67, but his closest rivals still had a chance to catch him.
All his challengers dropped shots on the back nine and when 23-year-old compatriot Ryan van Velzen missed a putt on the last hole to force a play-off, the title went to Norris.
It was an emotional victory for the 40-something player, and he showed that experience is invaluable, especially on a course like Leopard Creek.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship is his 2nd title on the DP World tour after also winning the Steyn City Championship in 2022.
