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Langebaan - Justin Harding had to contend with strong winds coming down the stretch on Saturday at Langebaan Country Estate, but he managed to birdie the 18th twice in a row for a playoff victory at the Vodacom Origins of Golf presented by Samsung.
“I was quite focused on getting the job done. I put two good shots in on 18 during regulation play and gave myself a chance, which is what I wanted to do. I’m super pleased with the result and hopefully this jump-starts the year,” he said.
The four-time Sunshine Tour winner had to chase down Vaughn Groenewald, who shot a final-round 66 and set the clubhouse target on eight-under-par.
Harding, cheered on by his family, was up to the task and carded 32 on the back nine to match the lead and force a sudden-death playoff, which meant extra trips down the 18th.
“It’s easier when you know what needs to be done, because it’s win or go home. Vaughn set a good target and fortunately I matched him. My family was watching, my mom saw me win for the first time, and it was great to have their support in such trying conditions,” said the 29-year-old.
On the first playoff hole he found the fairway with his drive and then played an approach to 40 feet from the cup. Groenewald, meanwhile, had hit a wayward tee shot into a water hazard. He went on to play his approach to the right fringe of the green, from where he had a 35-footer for birdie, which came up short.
Harding nearly holed his initial putt for eagle and was left with a tap-in for his first victory of 2015.
“Financially-speaking I had my best season last year, but I didn’t get a win and it was weighing down on my mind. It was awesome to get one again and have the feeling of knocking it in and picking up the trophy,” said the Stellenbosch local.
The highlight of the final round, outside of the playoff birdie, was Harding’s eagle three at the 12th hole. The two-shot gain put him straight back into contention and was the foundation for his round of 68 on Saturday.
“I knew I was thereabouts going into the back nine, I just needed to get off to a good start. I made eagle on 12, which was huge. It pretty-much put me back in the game.
“I played it a bit safe off the tee and then hit four-iron in from about 206 metres. I hit a high cut in there and had about 12 feet to the pin. I knew that the eagle was make-or-break, so sinking that putt was crucial,” he said.
The future is looking bright for Harding, who will look to bigger and better things with this victory under his belt.
“We don’t have much on in the next couple of months, but hopefully I can take this form into the rest of the year and compete with the same confidence at bigger events,” he said.
FINAL SCORES
208 - Justin Harding 72 68 68
208 - Vaughn Groenewald 73 69 66
209 - Andrew Georgiou 69 72 68, Henry Featherstone (ENG) 73 66 70
210 - Madalitso Muthiya (ZAM) 70 71 69
211 - Rhys West 73 70 68
212 - Christiaan Basson 74 69 69, Ruan de Smidt 76 66 70, Lyle Rowe 71 71 70, Titch Moore 74 67 71, Andrew Curlewis 73 66 73
213 - Neil Schietekat 76 67 70, Ulrich van den Berg 72 69 72, Le Roux Ferreira 69 71 73
214 - JeanPaul Strydom 74 71 69, Jake Redman 76 68 70, CJ du Plessis 74 70 70, Mark Williams (ZIM) 73 70 71, Jacques Kruyswijk 73 69 72, Tyrone Ryan 70 72 72
215 - Hennie du Plessis 73 72 70, Allister de Kock 75 70 70, Maritz Wessels 76 68 71, Chris Swanepoel 72 72 71, Jaco Prinsloo 73 68 74, Derik Ferreira 70 70 75
216 - Allan Versfeld 75 70 71, Morne Buys 71 74 71, Breyten Meyer 74 70 72, Erik van Rooyen 71 73 72, Charl Coetzee 77 66 73, Roberto Lupini 71 72 73
217 - Theunis Spangenberg 75 67 75, Drikus Bruyns 74 68 75
218 - Johan du Buisson 72 73 73, Callum Mowat 72 70 76
219 - Keenan Davidse 72 73 74, Grant Veenstra 73 72 74, Andrew McLardy 71 73 75, Desvonde Botes 73 71 75, Wallie Coetsee 75 67 77
221 - Gert Myburgh 74 70 77
222 - Calvin Caldeira 75 70 77
223 - Divan Gerber 78 66 79
