Birdie at last hole wins Jo'burg City Masters for 

Craig Hinton from Thame

JOHANNESBURG — Craig Hinton finally shook off the bridesmaid tag on the MENA Golf Tour, winning the Jo’burg City Masters, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, with a birdie on the closing hole at Glendower Golf Club today.

Starting the day a good three shots off the pace, the 27-year-old Englishman from Thame closed with a four-under 68 to finish seven-under for the tournament, two clear of a four-man group which included N.J. Arnoldi and David Ashley, who both carded matching 66s.

A four-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, Hinton eagled the par-4, seventh and birdied the next two holes to get his nose in front for the first time in the tournament.

He dropped a shot on the par-5, 15th after making the turn at four under, but held his nerve, capping his round with a birdie for his maiden win on the MENA Golf Tour. 

“It was a good yardage for the club I had. I was a little indecisive – I mean I slightly pulled it, but it was nice to have a tap-in,” said Hinton about his finish on the challenging par-four 18th.

Hinton’s brilliant approach shot on the 18th wasn’t his only special moment during the final round. An eagle-two at the par-four seventh sparked the momentum for his title run.

“It was a slow start, but the eagle on seven sort of kick-started the round. I had a couple birdies after that and it kind of gave me a chance to win the tournament,” said Hinton after receiving the winner’s trophy. 

“I though I’d get to 10 – 10 was in my head. When I got to seven early through the front nine I thought there were a lot of chances on the back nine. I looked at the scoreboard at four and no one really had made the charge. I just sort of made par coming in.” said Hinton.

Hinton’s approach of looking at the leaderboards throughout the round is one some golfers don’t agree with, but for him it’s a way of calming himself and knowing what he needs to do.

“I looked at every single one. Yeah, it’s good to know here you are. Walking up 18, I even asked one of the rules officials what the guys were doing behind. I think you need to know what you need to do up the last and if you can take a risk or not take a risk,” explained Hinton.

“I love the golf course. It suits my eye the whole way around and there wasn’t one tee shot I didn’t enjoy. It’s a great golf course in great condition and I look forward to coming back sometime,” said Hinton. 

On a lay-out which required precision and nerve, overnight leader Siphiwe Siphayi of South Africa fell away after dropping three shots in his first five holes. 

He responded with a couple of birdies and an eagle (on the 15th), but kept bleeding shots along the way, eventually settling for a 74 to finish in a tie for ninth on three-under along with England’s Luke Joy, a two-time winner on the MENA Golf Tour.

The South African duo of Omar Sandys and Riekus Nortje carded 67 and 69 respectively for a share of second as David Meyers won the amateur division on a level-par after returning a final round 74.

The MENA Golf Tour will travel to Pretoria for the third and final event — The Roar — in South Africa this season to be held at Waterkloof Golf Club from June 22 to 24.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 216 (3x72)

209 Craig Hinton (ENG)      71 70 68

211 N.J. Arnoldi (RSA)        77 68 66

211 David Ashley (ENG)     77 68 66

211 Omar Sandys (RSA)     74 70 67

211 Riekus Nortje (RSA)     73 69 69

212 Francois Coetzee (RSA) 77 71 64

212 Jaco Prinsloo (RSA)      69 77 66

212 Sipho Bujela (RSA)      72 72 68

213 Luke Joy (ENG)           73 72 68

213 Pieter Kruger (RSA)      74 67 72

213 Siphiwe Siphayi (RSA) 74 64 75
SELECTED TOTAL
218 Paul Doherty (Sco) 74 72 72 (T30)

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