Fife golfer Connor Syme finishes on a high in South Africa

Connor Syme shot a closing 69 to finish tied for 11th place at the Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club.

The Drumoig golfer finished at nine under par after a solid week, nine shots behind South Africa’s George Coetzee, who won the title for the second time.

Coetzee carded a final round of 67 at Pretoria Country Club, where he has been a member since taking up the game, to finish two shots ahead of England’s Sam Horsfield.

Finland’s Mikko Korhonen, who was second in the event 12 months ago, was a shot further back in third after two costly late bogeys ended his chances of victory.

Scott Jamieson carded a final round 68 to finish top Scot at 13-under.

Coetzee began the day with a two-shot lead but bogeyed the third and fourth and found himself two behind Korhonen, who had birdied the third and fifth.

However, a brilliant display of putting helped Coetzee fire six birdies in 10 holes from the sixth to move into a threeshot lead with three holes left before play was suspended for more than an hour-and-a-half due to the threat of lightning.

When play resumed Coetzee parred the 16th and was stood over his second shot on the 17th before ominous thunder overhead heralded a second suspension, although the players remained in position and Coetzee spent the short delay calmly chatting with spectators.

That looked an unwise move when his eventual approach to the 17th flew over the green and led to a bogey, with Horsfield making birdie to cut his four-shot deficit in half.

However, 2015 champion Coetzee was not to be denied another victory and birdied the 18th to seal his fourth European Tour title, all of which have come on African soil.

Connor Syme: eight behind winner George Coetzee.