Happy Hurley back on track despite slow Sunday in Limpopo

Gary Hurley is looking forward to pushing on at this week’s Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open after finishing tied 36th in his first start for eight months in the Sunshine Tour’s SDC Open.

The West Waterford star (31) hadn’t played since he took time off to look after his mental health last May.

But while he followed three 68s with a one-over 73 to finish on 11-under at Zebula Golf Estate, 13 shots behind Welshman Rhys Enoch, he was pleased with how he handled himself on his return to action.

“It was good,” Hurley said as he prepared to head from Limpopo to Cape Town, where he is joined this week by Mark Power, Conor Purcell, Jonathan Caldwell and Dermot McElroy. 

“A lot of good stuff out there. In fairness, I didn't have my best today.

“I was up and down all day - I hit it in a tree there on 18 before they blew the horn. But you all know, all in all, I fought hard today and we move on to next week.”

Hurley was pleased with his attitude and his composure as much as his technique after admitting he struggled last year with being too hard on himself.

“What pleased men most is just how I am,” he said. 

“This my first time back in a while, so it's just how I am on the course and how I am with myself. It's been pretty good. So I'm happy with that.”

Enoch (35) claimed his second Challenge Tour win when he closed with a six-under 66 to win by two shots from South Africans Martin Rohwer and Deon Germishuys on 24-under.

But it was also a memorable day on the for Dylan Frittelli, who won his first DP World Tour title in nearly six years with a two-shot triumph at the Bahrain Championship presented by Bapco Energies.

The South African started the final day at Royal Golf Club with a two-shot lead but was overtaken at the turn and two over for the day after 12 holes.

But three birdies in four holes from the 13th saw him card a one-under 71 for a two-shot win over compatriots Zander Lombard and Swede Jesper Svensson on 13-under.

A Challenge Tour graduate in 2016, he won the LYONESS OPEN powered by ORGANIC+ and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in 2017 before moving to the PGA TOUR and taking the title at the 2019 John Deere Classic.

After a difficult 2023, he said he was "invigorated" to be back on the DP World Tour after taking up a route for those who finished outside the top 125 on the FedExCup Fall Points List and he has now been rewarded with his first win since 2019

"It feels great, it feels awesome," said Frittelli, who missed the cut or withdrew from 23 of his 27 starts on the PGA TOUR last season. 

"It's been a long road the last five or six years since I left the DP World Tour and went to the States. It was a pretty tough year last year in America, but it feels awesome to be back on top right now.

"Last year, I was in a couple of spots where I thought I was giving the game up, to be honest, and looking for something else.

"I found some resolve at the end of last year and got some good work from my physio and my coaches and trainers. 

“I'm glad I persevered and all the support from family and friends has been well worth it."