After moving to Ebotse Links, JC Ritchie already felt at home here. On Sunday he proved it when he won the Hyundai Open by two shots in a final round he nearly didn’t make because of illness.
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Playing in the final group, Ritchie closed with a 67 to win on 23 under par, with Yurav Premlall (68) and Kyle de Beer (70) his nearest challengers on 21 under par.
It was a composed performance from a player who returned with the confidence of a season on the DP World Tour.
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“I moved to Ebotse two months ago, so I’m feeling like a local. It’s my second win here, so it’s starting to feel like home,” said Ritchie, who equaled Casey Jarvis’s winning score at this tournament last year.
But Ritchie almost didn’t even make it to the final round.
“My wife got a bit sick on Friday afternoon and we had to rush to hospital. We’re pregnant with twins and they are due in three weeks’ time. Luckily she and the babies are fine. However I woke up at about two o’clock this morning feeling sick. I felt terrible and wasn’t sure if I was going to play today. It’s very unexpected to get this done today.”
Beginning the final round one shot behind the overnight leader De Beer, Richie didn’t start well with a bogey on the second hole, while both De Beer and Premlall picked up early birdies. But it was his four birdies in five holes to the turn that gave him the momentum he needed, and he also closed with two consecutive birdies – including a chip-in on the 17th.
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“I didn’t quite know where my hands were on the front nine, but managed to settle in. Yurav (Premlall) making a lot of birdies made it look possible at least. It’s always fun coming down the stretch knowing you need to make some birdies. The chip-in on the 17th hole was unbelievable. I am super chuffed,” Ritchie said.
Sunshine Tour Rookie Malan Potgieter finished in a career-best fourth place on 19 under par.
The medallion for the winning caddie was awarded to Andrew Weaver.
