Karmis holds on for Swazi Open victory

PETER Karmis shot an inspired threeunder-par 69 final round to win the Royal Swazi Open with 49 points on Saturday.

Rounds of 67, 70, 62 and 69 earned him a second title in less than 10 months when he won the Sibaya Challenge.

This victory could not have come at a better place than the Royal Swazi Spa Country Club. Karmis has won twice on this course before in a different event.

“I’m extremely excited and relieved at the same time,” he said after the win.

“I was very stressed, but I am very pleased to come out of it with a victory.”

And it was not easy because for a moment there American Zach Byrd seemed to have clinched it when he overtook Herman Loubser on the scoreboard, while Port Elizabeth’s Lyle Rowe’s shot on 17 almost landed in for albatross.

Had that happened, Karmis’s chance of winning would have vanished into thin air.

He admits though that the win was a team effort between himself and his caddie.

“I literally don’t hit a putt without him giving me the line. He’s been on my bag for a while; at Sibaya we won together,” Karmis said.

On 48 points was the duo of Byrd and Rowe, while Loubser and Ruan de Smidt shared fourth spot, three points behind Karmis.

Merrick Bremner and Jared Harvey also looked like they were in with a shot but eventually had to settle in sixth position on 45 points.

Sharing eighth spot was Erik van Rooyen, rookie of the season Christiaan Bezuidenhout and George Coetzee, all on 43 points.

Meanwhile, Ashley Buhai showed some resilience en route to winning the women’s event.

Having landed on Tuesday from the United States, she had to battle jet lag, fatigue and a strong field to claim success.

However, a comfortable 15 points meant she was clear of second-placed Nobuhle Dlamini, while she finished 10 points clear of third-placed Nicole Garcia.