Home favourite Shaun Norris claimed his second DP World Tour title in style after coming from way back to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by a single shot, while Tom McKibbin overcame a shaky front nine to post a level-par 72 and finish tied for 24th.
The Holywood man shot rounds of 69 on days one and three, but a disappointing finish to Friday’s second round meant he was too far back to harbour many hopes of a second DP World Tour win in Sunday’s final round.
And the slim chance he did have all but expired after a front nine that saw him bogey the third, birdie the sixth, and round out the nine by going bogey, double bogey on holes eight and nine.
But his final competitive nine holes of 2024 were more like the form he’d shown throughout most of the year, going bogey-free and carding birdies on the par-5 13th and 15th holes, and a final birdie on the par-4 17th to push his way inside the top 25.
42-year-old Norris began the final round six shots off the lead but fired a stunning 67 on Sunday to set the clubhouse target at 13 under par.
With many players in the final groups still in contention, it was not clear whether Norris’ total would be enough to earn him the trophy.
But Leopard Creek Country Club’s difficult closing stretch picked off the chasing pack one by one until only countryman Ryan van Velzen had a realistic chance of denying Norris at least a play-off.
Van Velzen was locked alongside Norris at the summit as he stood at the 18th tee but after he put his approach shot into the water, the 23-year-old was unable to save par and Norris clinched the title.
Third-round leader Marcus Kinhult, Van Velzen and England’s John Parry finished in a three-way tie for second, one shot behind Norris on 12 under.
Norris got off to a flying start, holing his enormous putt from just off the second green for an excellent eagle.
A birdie followed at the sixth but he would surrender a double bogey on the par-three seventh after finding the water there.
He bounced straight back with a birdie at the eighth before rolling in his downhill birdie putt on the 11th.
A six-foot birdie at the long 13th then took him to 12 under and within one shot of the lead.
And he grabbed a share of the lead on 13 under with a ten-foot putt for birdie at the 15th.
But he saved his best until the final hole, as his tricky third shot from a fairway bunker avoided danger and allowed him to two-putt for par.
After Van Velzen’s bogey on the last, an emotional Norris was left to celebrate his return to the winner’s circle just two weeks after he won the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in Japan.
Norris said: “I’m very happy that it worked out this way.
“Words can’t describe (winning a second DP World Tour title). This last year has been very tough. It’s been up and down and all over the place. But thanks to God, my family, my wife. We’ve kept it together.
“Winning two weeks ago in Japan and then winning this week – what a blessing.”
Speaking about what it means to win at such a special venue, Norris added: “This title means everything to me.
“To win here at Leopard Creek, which is always in spectacular condition and where we’ve had such good champions such as Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen – to now put my name on this trophy is a blessing.
“This changes a few things for me. I’ve got so much to look forward to over the next few years.
“But now it’s time for a holiday.”
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