Darren Fichardt launched a 239-yard three-iron over some intervening trees and the water surrounding the 18th green to set up a birdie on the final hole for a one-stroke victory finished at sixteen under par in the R3-million Dimension Data Pro-Am. He carded a four-under 68 on the Montagu course at Fancourt to draw away from Branden Grace who shared the lead with him after the third round.

“I might come and buy a house down here on Montagu,” said Fichardt, referring to his opening six-under 66 on the course and his final round which saw him relegate Louis Oosthuizen to second and give him his second title in the event after his 2004 victory.

Oosthuizen finished fast with a six-under 66 to set the target for Fichardt who was playing the 18th just behind him.

Grace slipped to a share of fourth with Tyrone van Aswegen after he battled his way through his final round in one-over 73. He dumped his approach on 18 into the water to sink the final chance he had of winning.

“You can’t get away with bad ball-striking on this course,” said Fichardt, “and I have been hitting the ball well since the beginning of the year.”

And there were not many better shots than his second into 18th: “It was not quite a hybrid, but a very hard three-iron,” he said. “Under the circumstances, I felt a hard three-iron was appropriate, and I hit it very hard. I was just glad it wasn’t short.”

He was just through the green for two on the par-five hole, and, after Oosthuizen had birdied it, Fichardt knew a good up-and-down was all he needed.

“I’m almost happier about the chip,” he said.

It very nearly didn’t work out for him after he bogeyed the opening three holes in the final round. “I started really badly today and I kept coming back, and hanging in there and making crucial putts when I needed them,” he said.

Grace had some consolation after missing out on the victory. He and his amateur partner Jannie Durand won the betterball medal event by one stroke from James Kingston and Paul Harris. “I had a good partner out there,” said Grace, “and he kept me going through some difficult patches, and he held up well today when we had a few spectators with us". 

It was also a good week for Anton Haig who finished in a tie for 7th on nine under par.