Williams triumphs in Soweto after tough playoff

Robin Williams claimed a hard-fought victory over Jordan Duminy in the Altron Big Easy Tour tournament that was held at Soweto Country Club on Thursday.

It took five sudden death holes to decide the victor after both players finished on five-under in regulation. Williams entered the final round of this 54-hole event leading by one stroke on seven under while Duminy was two shots back.

Duminy shot an even-par final round while Williams struggled to a two-over-par round which reduced his total for the week to five-under, setting up a playoff with Duminy.

The first hole of sudden death saw both players make bogeys and necessitated another trip up the 18th hole which ended the same way; with both players making bogeys there.

A par for each player on the third hole of extra time meant another trip to the 18th tee box and once more, both players made par to keep things even in front of a lively Soweto crowd.

With both players visibly tired after the fourth hole, Duminy made a bogey on the fifth extra hole while Williams was happy to make par there and walk home with the title.

Robin Williams wins the #AltronBigEasyTour Soweto Tournament @AltronSI pic.twitter.com/nAG9M8qfvh
— Altron Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) August 3, 2023

“I didn’t know my situation on the 17th hole in regulation because had I known that I still had a two-shot lead, I would have played 17 and 18 differently,” said Williams in the aftermath of his victory.

“I was a bit disappointed with how I played in the playoffs because I felt like I got lucky a couple of times when we both kept on making bogeys. But the main thing is that I got the job done.”

The win in Soweto was Williams’s second this year, having claimed a playoff victory in the Altron Vusi Ngubeni Tournament earlier this year.

And, having never played at Soweto Country Club prior to this week, Williams conceded that this win was sweeter.

“It feels really good to win here,” he added, “because I had not played this course before. Also, the quality of the players here is top-class. I am very happy to win here.”

Williams will now hope to carry his recent form and the confidence with which this win comes into his next Sunshine Tour event at Zebula next week.