Home hero Coetzee’s joy in Pretoria

Golf: South Africa’s George Coetzee put home advantage to full use to win his second European Tour title in the Tshwane Open yesterday.

Coetzee carded a flawless final round of 65 to finish one shot ahead of compatriot Jacques Blaauw at Pretoria Country Club, the course where he has been a member since taking up the game and where he won his first junior competition, aged just 10.

Blaauw had charged through the field with a stunning closing 61 to equal the course record and set the clubhouse target at 13 under par, with the final groups still having nine holes to play.

However, Coetzee, who was one of six players sharing the lead overnight, was just one behind after finishing his front nine with three birdies in four holes and picked up two more shots on the back nine to seal victory.

“I think I’ve got this course down after 18 years of playing golf,” joked Coetzee, whose previous win also came on home soil at the Joburg Open last year.

“I know when I am comfortable hitting drivers and going for par fours or being aggressive and attacking flags and I think today played to my advantage knowing when to be aggressive and when not to.

“I drew on my experiences of winning club championships here. I actually threw one away by playing it conservative on 17. So today it was quite an easy decision. I knew I was going to hit driver no matter what, because I don’t know how to play that hole with an iron! To win at your home club, in front of all your friends and family, it’s a great experience and a special day for me.”

Darren Clarke finished best of the Irish on five under, after a final round of 69. Michael Hoey finished on two over par.