Brilliant Burmester fires flawless 62 in Tenerife to end title drought
Dean Burmester carded a brilliant bogey-free 62 to claim his first win in four years at the Tenerife Open.
The big-hitting South African had entered the final round at Golf Costa Adeje one shot off the lead, however he soon hit the front and the chasing pack could not keep pace as he made nine birdies to get to 25 under par and win by five shots.
Germany’s Nicolai von Dellingshausen was the nearest competition at 20 under, a shot clear of Poland's Adrian Meronk and Finn Kalle Samooja.
But none of them truly threatened Burmester down the stretch as the 31-yearold used his length to birdie four of the five par-fives while looking assured on the greens.
An emotional Burmester said afterwards: "There are no words that can describe it, it’s four years of struggle and hard work.
"Jason my caddie and I have been together two years – he had never won so it’s his first win and he deserves it because he’s been with me through thick and thin.
"It’s unbelievable, I can’t even describe it.”
Burmester birdied the first and second holes but failed to take advantage of the par-five third after hitting a perfect drive and then missed a short putt for birdie on the fourth as Samooja looked to be the man to catch.
But a hat-trick of gains from the fifth and a clutch putt for par on the ninth assured he led at the turn before he made the most of the par-five 11th and 13th.
An approach to four feet at the 15th extended his lead to five and fist bumps with caddie Jason Reynolds were shared up the 18th fairway before making a final birdie of the day.
Von Dellingshausen, pictured left, holed a nerveless eagle putt at the last in a 68, while Meronk carded a 67 and Samooja finished with a 69.
"That par putt at nine was a moment where I figured, I believe now, because I struck the putt and it rolled straight over the spot I was targeting and I couldn’t believe I had hit such a perfect putt, and it went in,” said Burmester.
"Then a crucial par save on ten, a nice birdie at 11 and then at 12 – that's a shot which I’ve been practicing, hitting over trees and around gardens, when I was young so when I hit that shot pin high I was just thinking, ‘OK, come on, just keep going’ and to go bogeyfree is world class.
"I can go home and see my family now, I’m so excited.
"With Covid and everything I didn’t know when I was going to get home so I’m so excited.
"This is pretty emotional, I’m very excited to get home.”
Burmester could now break into the top 100 when the rankings are next released.
"I'd obviously love to get in that top 100 in the world, it's quite lucrative, a lot of things happen when you get into that top 100, so if I can get back there I'll be very excited," he said.
"Hopefully I can go from strength to strength now and that'll be my plan, I won't stop working hard and trying to get better."
Welshman Jamie Donaldson finished ten shots off the lead after a 65, two ahead of Scottish pair Scott Jamieson (70) and Richie Ramsay (67) at 13 under, with England's Paul Waring at 12 under.
Grant Forrest finished at 11 under par after closing with a64.