Sunday, February 26, 2012

HORNE WINS SOUTH AFRICAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT AGE OF 40

FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN PGA WEBSITE
Keith Horne has been walking Sunshine Tour fairways since 1996. But it was only today, as he rolled in a birdie putt to win the Telkom South African PGA Championship, he said, that he felt like he truly belonged.
With a final round of 69 at Country Club Johannesburg, Horne won South Africa’s second oldest professional tournament by three strokes on 19-under-par.
The 40-year-old professional, who has travelled most of Africa, Asia and Europe in search of titles, has waited a long time for the fifth victory of his career, but by far the biggest.
“It has been a long time coming. I’m over the moon that I can tick this off. I would’ve been disappointed to have played in South Africa for so long and never won a big tournament. And this is a big one. It’s been going for many years with so many big names on the trophy. I really feel like I’m a big player in South Africa now,” said Horne.
Much like it has been throughout his career, Horne’s patience was the key to this victory. He took a two-stroke lead into the final round, and birdied two of the first three holes. He added another birdie at the sixth, and then just made his pars as the rest of the field struggled to match his consistency.
Alex Haindl made a run at him on the front nine and closed to within one shot. But his challenge ended with a double bogey on the ninth and then a bogey on 10. Darren Fichardt was denied by his putter on the final day. And even a surging Jaco Ahlers could only get to 16-under with his impressive 66. All three of them shared second place on that total.
As much as he was inwardly frustrated by not making more birdies, Horne could afford a bogey on 17 and then rolled in a five-footer for birdie on 18 to win.
“I wasn’t feeling too much pressure because I was playing well. I really wanted to make that five-footer for birdie at the last to finish on a high. But I felt confident the whole week. It’s the first time I felt like I could win, was going to win and did win.”
And at the age of 40, Horne feels like he’s just settling into an even better back nine to his career.
“I’ve always thought my best golf is still ahead of me. Every year I’ve felt like my golf has been getting better and I haven’t levelled out yet. So I feel my best is yet to come.”
Horne’s consistency has earned him the nickname of ‘ATM’ amongst the Sunshine Tour caddies. Get Keith Horne’s bag, and you know you’ll earn a cheque.
On Sunday, Horne finally got the payout he’s been working so hard for.

Michael Vlismas

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google