MICHAEL VLISMAS, Bloemfontein | Sunday 3.00pm.
DESVONDE Botes’ love for platteland courses saw him claim his second Vodacom Tour victory this year with a narrow one-shot triumph in the R200000 Vodacom Series: Free State at the Bloemfontein Golf Club on Saturday.
Botes, who won the South African Masters in Welkom earlier this year, overcame a nervous start to card a final round one-under par 71 for a 54-hole total of 10-under par 206.
Titch Moore finished second on nine-under 207 after a superb 66, while Hennie Otto claimed third place on eight-under par 208 with a 69.
Botes, who has been dogged by a back injury for most of his career, started the final round three clear of the field.
However, the 24-year-old got off to a disastrous start when he bogeyed the par-four first after hitting his drive left and then missing the green with his second.
Callie Swart, his nearest challenger, birdied the hole for a two-shot swing, closing the gap to only one.
“It wasn’t the best of starts, but I just kept telling myself that there’s still 17 holes left,” said Botes.
But a few too many loose shots off the tee from Botes meant that Swart enjoyed the sole tournament lead on 10-under after eight holes.
“I didn’t hit the ball well at all. I don’t know what it was, but my swing started to feel awkward over the last few holes of the second round and that carried through to the final round,” said Botes.
Swart then dropped off the pace as Titch Moore began to make his presence felt.
Moore began the round a massive six shots adrift of the lead, but found the kind of putting form which is the key to success at the Bloemfontein Golf Club.
A bogey-free 66 gave him the clubhouse lead on nine-under, with Botes still to play his final three holes.
“Playing the par-three 16th, I knew that Titch was nine-under and that I had to make birdie there.”
It was Botes’ fourth birdie of the day amidst three bogeys, and secured him the title and cheque for R31400.
“I don’t know what it is with these platteland courses. Maybe it’s the people, but I always seems to play well on them.”
Botes will be playing in the Sarazen World Open and Singapore Open in November, before taking in the final stage of the European Tour’s Qualifying School in Spain in November. — MWP