Oosthuizen romps to SA Open win

Louis wins by six shots after dominating strong field

HE went into yesterday’s SA Open final round with a three shot lead and in the end won by six. It was an emotional triumph for Louis Oosthuizen.

Scheduling issues had meant he was simply not able to play his national Open as often as he’d have liked, but a move to early December this year paved the way for Oosthuizen to play again. And how he made it count.

“The last time I played the SA Open was in 2011 because it always clashed with a family holiday in Namibia,” said Oosthuizen after his win. “It just never worked out and it’s always been family first for me.

“And the last time I played here at Randpark, as an amateur, I was disqualified because the three-ball I was part of thought there were preferred lies like there had been the day before. And last year, I busted my finger ahead of the Joburg Open here. So, it’s nice to come back here, have the lead I did and win,” said Oosthuizen.

He dominated the 240-strong field with an opening round nineunder-par 62 on Thursday, followed it up with a 70 in tough conditions on Friday and at the weekend recorded scores of 67 on Saturday and Sunday.

What is meant was a total of 18-under-par and a six shot win.

“There was a lot of relief when that last putt went in,” said Oosthuizen. “It’s every South Afriocan golfer’s dream to get their name on that trophy, but it can be difficult with a big lead. I thought it was important to keep my foot on the pedal, which I did.”

Only briefly did it look like the nerves and what was at stake might get to Oosthuizen – when he bogey the second and third holes yesterday, but he struck big blows at the fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes by making birdies.

“It was a tough start. I could have easily lost the lead, especially when I saw Branden’s (Grace) name up there, he got to 12-under, and I was at 13-under, before playing the six. But I got my focus to where I wanted it to be, and made some nice drives and putts, and got into a nice lead going into the back nine.”

Oosthuizen then knocked a perfect nine-iron close after a magnificent drive at the par-five 14th for an eagle three and put beyond doubt who’d win this year’s tournament.

A birdie at 16 was offset by a bogey at 17, but it mattered little.

France’s Romain Langasque finished second with a total of 12-under-par after a final round 66, while four players – the South Africans, Thomas Aiken, Charl Schwartzel and Bryce Easton and England’s Oliver Wilson – finished at 10-under-par for the week. A further shot back an in a tie for seventh were eight players, including the highly impressive Madalitso Muthiya from Zambia, and local stars Brandon Stone, Grace, Haydn Porteous, Anthony Michael and J’be Kruger.