Ndola - Adilson Da Silva birdied the final hole on Sunday to win the R800 000 Zambia Open played at the 6 474m par-73 Ndola Golf Club.

The shot Da Silva picked up to take the sixth Sunshine Tour title of his career turned out to be irrelevant as his closest pursuer, Johan Du Buisson made a double bogey and let slip the chance of winning his maiden title in his second year on the tour.

“I hit a great drive on 18, and had just 95 metres to the pin,” said Da Silva. “At that point, all I had to do was just knock it onto green and make sure. I was happy when I sank the birdie putt from 25 feet.”

Du Buisson had moved to within two shots of the Brazilian with a birdie on the 15th as Da Silva, who had led from round one, seemed to be battling to pull clear.

But Du Buisson made a double-bogey six on the 336-metre par-four 18th, and let Da Silva ease clear into a four-stroke victory.

The 30-year-old Du Buisson had to settle for the second top 10 finish of his fledgling career after he hit a three-wood off the tee out of bounds.

Da Silva started well enough with a birdie on the opening hole, but bogeys on seven and nine saw him turn at one-over and looking a little shaky. “I need to work on the mental side of things,” he said.

An eagle three on the 507-metre 14th saw his fortunes change: “I hit a good drive and good approach, and knocked it in from about 20 feet,” he said. But a bogey on the 17th saw Du Buisson move to within a single stroke.

The man who was expected to give Da Silva more of a problem in the final round, Warren Abery, fell off the pace on the homeward nine, making four bogeys in the final eight holes, including two on 17 and 18 which saw him finish in a share of seventh.

Veteran Brett Liddle finished alone in third with his second consecutive round of three-under 70, which included a hole-in-one on the 172-metre 12th, while Lindani Ndwandwe finished fastest of all on the day with his seven-under 66 lifting him into fourth and his best finish of the year.

Defending champion Jbe’ Kruger had a disappointing final round of two-over 75 for a share of 42nd.

Zambian amateur Dayne Moore was the best local player. The 17-year-old had rounds of 72, 68 and 70 to share seventh on his home course. “I’m looking to play professionally soon,” he said, “and I hope to earn my card at the Sunshine Tour Qualifying School this year.”

For Da Silva, it will be about trying to ride the momentum he has displayed in the last two weeks: “I’m really chuffed with the win,” he said. “I’ve been working pretty hard at the swing and I feel really comfortable right now.

“It’s just the mental side.”

Scores (RSA unless specified):

202 - Adilson da Silva (BRA) 64 66 72
206 - Johan du Buisson 68 66 72
207 - Brett Liddle 67 70 70
208 - Lindani Ndwandwe 71 71 66
209 - Toto Thimba (Jnr) 73 70 66, Ulrich van den Berg 72 69 68
210 - Ryan Thompson 69 72 69, Dayne Moore (ZAM) (AMA) 72 68 70, Adrian Ford 73 67 70, Des Terblanche 70 69 71, Christiaan Basson 67 69 74, Warren Abery 69 64 77
211 - Alain Norris 71 70 70, Oliver Bekker 71 70 70, Bradford Vaughan 67 70 74
212 - Martin Maritz 77 67 68, Thabang Simon 68 74 70, TC Charamba (ZIM) 74 68 70, Willie van der Merwe 74 70 68, Jake Redman 66 75 71, Nemanja Savic (SER) 73 72 67, Daniel Greene 72 67 73
213 - Nic Henning 70 73 70, Jake Roos 71 72 70, Jaco Ahlers 70 75 68, Marc Cayeux (ZIM) 73 68 72, John Bele 72 68 73
214 - Ben Hatchwell (CAN) 75 68 71, Titch Moore 71 72 71, Mike Curtis (ZIM) 72 72 70, Anthony Michael 74 70 70, David Hewan 69 72 73, Garry Hill 75 71 68
215 - Robson Saurombe (ZIM) 72 70 73, Theunis Spangenberg 70 72 73, Ignatius Mketekete (ZIM) 71 74 70, Divan van den Heever 73 67 75
216 - Alan Michell 70 74 72, Steven Ferreira 73 72 71, Justin Harding 70 71 75, Bennie van der Merwe 72 74 70
217 - Patrick Mwendapole (ZAM) 71 73 73, Andrew Curlewis 75 69 73, Michael Scholz 76 68 73, Jbe' Kruger 69 73 75, Brian Njoroje (KEN) 69 72 76, Darren Blair 71 74 72
218 - Cameron Johnston 72 72 74, PG van Zyl 72 74 72
219 - Ryan Tipping 72 73 74
220 - Steve Basson 74 72 74, Attie Schwartzel 74 72 74
221 - Louis Calitz 73 71 77, Jacques Blaauw 72 74 75
223 - Ryan Clarke 71 75 77
224 - Mohammed Zulu (ZAM) 73 73 78, Gary Baynham 72 74 78
226 - Derik Ferreira 72 72 82