Toto Thimba Junior shot 67 on the second day to win the Houghton, Johannesburg tournament of the Sunshine Big Easy Tour on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old reached 11-under-par, finishing the R100 000 event one stroke clear of Ross Wellington, who charged to 10-under with a second-round 64, breaking the course record.
“I was in the zone. I didn’t care about the scores or anything. I just knew that I had to make birdies,” Thimba said.
“I think good things come to those who wait and I have waited for years. This win came at the right time and the right place.”
The Silver Lakes Country Club professional said he knew he was in with a shout when he reached the 18th green.
“On 18 I was nervous because yesterday I didn’t hit it great with my driver. Today I took my three-wood and hit it perfectly.”
Long time coming
Thimba felt the victory was a long time coming.
“This feels fantastic, it just brings a lot of confidence and I feel like I can win any tournament,” he said.
Wellington finished his second round with a bogey at the 18th hole, putting a damper on his record-breaking round.
Mark Williams, Ruan de Smidt and amateur Musiwalo Nethunzwi shared third at six-under par.
Williams finished last year’s Houghton tournament tied for second and once again showed how much he enjoyed the event with a second-round 67.
De Smidt, who is fifth in the Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year race, also excelled during the second round, carding 68 to claim his share of third.
However, Nethunzwi was the real surprise of the tournament, he shot rounds of 68 and 70. — Sapa