Werner Deyzel carded an impressive eight-under-par to claim a three-shot victory over Uganda’s Ronal Rugumayo in the Blue Label Development Tour’s one-day event at Services Golf Club on Thursday.
Woodhill Country Club player Deyzel had come close to winning a Sunshine Tour event twice this season, with third-place finishes at Reading Country Club two days ago and in the Altron Big Easy Tour at Huddle Park Golf Club last month.
On Thursday in the country’s capital city, Deyzel looked sharp and assured in his play and was not to be denied.
Birdies on the first hole, the second and another on the fourth characterised a bogey-free front nine of 33 for Deyzel, giving him some freedom to express himself coming home.
A par after the turn preceded a run of five birdies on the spin before a bogey on his halted Deyzel’s progress.
He steadied himself on the 17th and made par there before sealing his round with a birdie.
'HAPPY TO PULL THIS OFF'
“I struggled a lot on Tuesday at Reading and I wasn’t playing well,” said Deyzel, detailing the differences to his performance this week, “but today, I was hitting the ball really well and I was putting really well.
“In the all years we have played here, Services has always been a good scoring course. But you have to hit it well off the tee and putt just as well and I think I managed to do that today. I am very happy with myself and I am happy with the way I played today.”
A first-time winner on this development circuit, Deyzel will feel, more than ever before, that he has what it takes to compete and win against the elite of the sport. After all, the competition in this series is as fierce as they come and winning here is ever so tough.
“This win means a lot to me because I have been playing good golf over the last couple of months and I am very happy to pull this off,” he said.
Second-placed Rugumayo will be just as happy with his results on Thursday.
The Ugandan sensation seems to have settled and is beginning to build momentum. His round of seven-under-par 65 at Services will give him some confidence as the season progresses.
SCORES:
64 - Werner Deyzel
65 - Ronald Rugumayo
67 - Ruan Groenewald, Dayne Moore
68 - Andrew McLardy, Jason Froneman
69 - Jason Roets, Christopher Long, Stals Swart
70 - Andrew Williamson, Noel Anderson, Brandon-Jude Rennie, Coert Groenewald, Warwick Purchase, Philip Geerts, Mark Maart, Francois Van der Walt
71 - Jonathan Waschefort, Harry Konig, Makhetha Mazibuko, Slenda Sithebe, Shaheed Patel, Jabulane Mabilane, Travis Ladner, Wade Jacobs, Conner Mackenzie, Therion Nel, Christian Kriek, Rigardt Albertse
72 - Lyle Pedro, Dylan O'Leary, Burt Gildenhuys, Reece Mc Kain, Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Franklin Manchest, Sipho Bujela, Musiwalo Nethunzwi, Carlos Laranja, Tumelo Molloyi, Adriel Poonan
73 - Ruan de Smidt, Gerard du Plooy, Steven Le Roux, Brandon Gildenhuys, Sabelo Xolani Majola, Luan Steenkamp, Henning du Plooy, Andre Van Dyk, Marthin Scheepers, Evance Vukeya
74 - Kyle De Beer, Brandon Moodley, Andre De Decker, Keegan Mclachlan
75 - Samuel Simpson, Thabang Simon, Reinhardt Blaauw, Lwazi Gqira, Karabo Mokoena
76 - Darren Slingers, Ricco Motsa, Leon Vorster
77 - Thabiso Ngcobo, Gerard Moodley, Jastice Mashego, Siphiwe Siphayi, Alphius Kelapile
79 - Umar Davids, Shalan Govender, Irvin Mazibuko