Dec 09,2024
Home favourite Aldrich Potgieter missed the chance to secure a memorable victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge as Johannes Veerman claimed the title on a dramatic final afternoon.
South African rising star Potgieter, who won the Amateur Championship in 2022 at Royal Lytham & St Annes, looked on course to clinch his maiden DP World Tour title at the age of 20 on Sunday when he led by three shots after 10 holes.
But his advantage evaporated when he surrendered a triple bogey at the par-three 12th, leaving American Veerman – who began the day five shots off Potgieter's overnight lead – at the top of the leaderboard.
There were twists and turns still to come, though, as for the second day in succession the 14th gave Potgieter cause for hope, with a birdie putting him back in front.
But with Veerman safely parring the 18th to head into the clubhouse on five under par, Potgieter bogeyed the 16th to join him on that number before missing a good birdie chance on the 17th.
That left the pair locked together at the summit as Potgieter teed off on the 18th, where a closing bogey for him handed Veerman an emotional second DP World Tour victory.
Veerman carded six birdies and three bogeys in a final-round 69, with his pars at the tricky 17th and 18th proving crucial.
He said: "It feels amazing.
"Words can’t describe things like this.
"It’s a surreal feeling."
Potgieter, France’s Romain Langasque and Englishman Matthew Jordan finished in a tie for second one shot behind Veerman.
