Bezuidenhout goes back to back with South African Open win
Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Photo by Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour/Gallo Images
Christiaan Bezuidenhout wrote another thrilling chapter in his remarkable golfing story by cruising to a five-stroke win in the South African Open in Sun City.
The South African (26) signed for a final round of 69 at the Gary Player Country Club to win on 18-under-par from Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who shot 69, as compatriot Dylan Frittelli shot 71 to finish seven shots behind in third.
The win — the third of his career — earned Bezuidenhout back-to-back victories on the Sunshine Tour and European Tour following his triumph in last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.
"It's unbelievable to stand here with an Open win," said Bezuidenhout, who almost died at two years of age having mistakenly drunk rat poison from a Coca-Cola can, which resulted in a stammer. "It's any South African golfer's dream to win a national tournament. It's unreal."
At four years old he was diagnosed with severe anxiety before he was banned from golf for two years as an amateur in 2015 after testing positive for prescribed beta-blockers at the Amateur Championship.
His ban was reduced to nine months following a hearing which determined he had not used the substance for performance-enhancing purposes and he went on to clinch his maiden professional win in Andalucia Masters at Valderrama last year.
"I fought hard today, the front nine things didn't really go my way and I just dug deep to come out with a win today," said Bezuidenhout, who's projected to world No 35. "I knew I had to make pars coming in, and I did it. I'm really, really chuffed to stand here as a winner."
Following three successive 67s, Bezuidenhout took a five-stroke lead into the final round, and while Donaldson reduced that to three shots with two early birdies, Bezuidenhout remained composed.
While he bogeyed the eighth after finding water, he eased clear following three consecutive birdies from the 10th and another at the short 16th before getting a fortunate bounce into play from a cart path at the 17th.
