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Italian Matteo Manassero birdied the last four holes at the European Tour event in Johannesburg on Sunday to win his first title on the circuit since 2013 in near darkness.
The 30-year-old carded a final-round 66 for a three-shot triumph over South Africans Shaun Norris (68) and Thriston Lawrence (63) and Jordan Smith (68) from England.
Play was suspended for 150 minutes from mid-afternoon due to a thunderstorm at Glendower Golf Club, and Manassero had teed off on the par-five 17th when the hooter sounded.
But the Italian kept his composure to end a long title drought since winning for a fourth time on the Tour at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Since those halcyon early seasons of his career, Manassero has struggled and was relegated to the second-tier European Challenge Tour before regaining European Tour status.
In the autumn gloom of the South African financial capital, the native of Verona was smiling again and said his fifth European victory brought "overwhelming joy".
"I have been on a crazy journey of ups and downs in my golf career, and in recent seasons I have had a lot more bad days than good ones," he said.
"I never lost faith in my ability to recover, though, and am so happy to hold this trophy. It means the world to me.
"I cannot really reflect right now on how special today is in my life -- this success is going to take some time to sink in.
"My final round contained a lot of good shots, and to finish with four straight birdies was fantastic.
"Winning by three shots might suggest is was comfortable, but nothing could be further from the truth."
Manassero, who at 17 became the youngest winner of a European title, birdied seven holes in his final round, with the sole blemish a bogey four at 12.
Four-time European Tour champion Lawrence fired a 63 -- the equal lowest round of the day -- that included two eagles, six birdies and one bogey.
Leaderboard:
262 - Matteo Manassero (ITA) 68-61-67-66
265 - Thriston Lawrence (RSA) 65-70-67-63, Shaun Norris (RSA) 66-66-65-68, Jordan Smith (ENG) 66-66-65-68
266 - Angel Hidalgo (ESP) 67-64-67-68
267 - Oliver Bekker (RSA) 65-65-68-69, Ivan Cantero (ESP) 64-67-68-68
268 - Connor Syme (SCO) 68-67-66-67
269 - Tom McKibbin (NIR) 67-64-69-69, Daniel van Tonder (RSA) 68-68-69-64
270 - Louis de Jager (RSA) 65-69-70-66, Andrea Pavan (ITA) 68-67-67-68, Freddy Schott (GER) 71-64-70-65, Ryan van Velzen (RSA) 68-70-69-63
271 - Matthew Baldwin (ENG) 70-69-66-66, Sam Bairstow (ENG) 67-67-71-66
08 March 18:28
Magical Matteo shoots 61 to lead Jonsson Workwear Open
In the City of Gold, Matteo Manassero struck gold on the fairways of Glendower Golf Club and stunned the Jonsson Workwear Open field with a magnificent 11-under-par 61 to earn himself a one-stroke lead heading into the weekend of this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event.
Manassero responded to a perfect day primed for something special as he went out in 28 on the back nine – including two eagles – and then came home in 33 with not a single bogey on his card for the lowest round of his professional career, earning him the lead on 15 under par.
“It was fun. It was one of those days when golf gives you a lot more than you deserve,” he said of one of the lowest rounds ever posted on the venerable Glendower layout, although not an official course record because of preferred lies.
“It’s amazing, and to do it on this golf course which is one of the main ones in South Africa is really special,” he said.
His nearest challenger is South Africa’s Oliver Bekker on 14 under following a second consecutive 65, and he’s followed by Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (64) and the Spanish duo of Angel Hidalgo (64) and Ivan Cantero (67) on 13 under.
But Friday belonged to Manassero who admitted that at one point he started to think about the magical 59.
“Yes, I definitely did. I was trying to give myself a chance. I had two birdie chances – one was really close but it was a tricky putt. You can’t get everything. But I did think about 59 and the fact that I even thought about it means a lot. I’ve never even come close to that number, so it was fantastic. It was a perfect round.”
The confidence this round has brought him as he’s been on his well-publicised journey back onto the DP World Tour cannot be underestimated.
“The fact that I managed to get back on the DP World Tour already shows that I did a lot of good work, but I don’t want to look too much into the past. I get confidence for myself out of what I’ve done to get back onto the DP World Tour, but that’s about it. We look ahead, and then we have days like these – hopefully more than just once in a lifetime. But we also have bad days so we need to stay focused on getting better. Whatever Tour you’re playing, it’s never easy. The fact that I’m back here makes me proud. But I want to look ahead now and get better.”
Behind him, Bekker foresees a birdie-packed weekend. “If you look at the scores so far, 15-under-par through two rounds is leading so there are plenty of birdies out there. You need to keep pushing. You can’t play too safe,” said the South African.
– Michael Vlismas.
07 March 19:05
'Iron and Grit' earns Davidse share of Jonsson Workwear Open lead
The tagline for the 2024 Jonsson Workwear Open is “Iron and Grit”.
South Africa’s Keenan Davidse has had to show exactly this as he’s worked through an extremely difficult time in his personal life, but ended Thursday’s first round of this tournament a content man both inside and outside the ropes.
Davidse signed for an eight-under-par 64 at Glendower Golf Club to share the lead with Spain’s Ivan Cantero. They are one stroke clear of a strong South African challenge including Thriston Lawrence, Oliver Bekker and Louis de Jager, with the in-form Robin Williams just two shots back.
Davidse was delighted with his start in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament, and spoke with a sense of relief at feeling a balance in his life and game again.
“I’m on a good foot again. We’ve had some personal challenges as a family and it’s been tough, but we’ve overcome it. That’s my motivation at the moment – my wife and my kids. We all know it’s a tough life out on tour. Golf can bring you down. But with my family and my golf I’m in a good space, and I think that’s what’s motivating me,” said Davidse.
The South African is no stranger to leading a DP World Tour co-sanctioned event, having also done so in the 2017 Joburg Open. But it’s a lesson he learnt last week, where he finished tied 16th in the SDC Championship, that he’s tried to bring into his game here.
“I made 27 birdies last week to finish 16th. I made nine birdies today and one bogey, so I told myself if you limit the bogeys you can score because I make enough birdies,” he said. Behind him lies the experience of multiple DP World Tour winner Lawrence, who was equally pleased with one of his best opening rounds of late.
“I just had a great day. I had fun and stayed patient and it worked out pretty nicely. I don’t think I’ve shot seven under in a first round in a while. To be up there on day one really helps me. I know I’m good over a weekend, but it’s important if you want to win to go low on day one.”
And on six under par, Williams finds himself in contention for a maiden DP World Tour title for the second week in succession after losing a playoff for last week’s SDC Championship.
“I had time to reflect on last week. This week is a new week on a course I enjoy so I’m looking forward to it. I feel this golf course suits me. Getting so close last week shows that what I’m working on is right and hopefully it’s just a matter of time.
- Sunshine Tour
