South Africa's Dylan Naidoo has won the SA Open at the Durban Country Club after a playoff.
Image: Carl Fourie / Sunshine Tour
South African golfer Dylan Naidoo celebrated the defining moment of his career when he clinched his first European Tour title at the Investec SA Open Championship in extraordinary circumstances at the Durban Country Club on Sunday.
In the process, Naidoo became the first player of colour to lift the SA Open, 62 years after the trailblazing Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum won the Natal Open at the same venue in 1963 - the first person of colour to win a professional tournament in South Africa.
The fourth round was first suspended and then cancelled due to a flooded course, and with Englishman Laurie Canter and Naidoo locked together at the top of the leaderboard on 14 under par after three rounds, a playoff was required to decide the winner.
The pair returned to the 18th at 3pm local time, with Naidoo's birdie at the first extra hole enough to see him enter the DP World Tour winner's circle for the first time.
There was little to separate the two challengers after their tee-shots, with both men coming up just short of the green. But 27-year-old Naidoo seized the initiative as he chipped to around four feet with his second shot to set up a good birdie chance.
Canter, meanwhile, could only send his second shot to 15 feet, and after he missed his birdie try, Naidoo made no mistake with his to spark jubilant scenes around the green as the fans celebrated a sixth successive home victory at this historic event.
Naidoo's victory also earns him a spot at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, with Marco Penge and Darren Fichardt also qualifying.
Canter, who finished alone in second, now leads the Race to Dubai Rankings and still tops the International Swing standings with one event remaining.
Penge was one shot further back in third, while South Africans Fichardt, Branden Grace and amateur Christiaan Maas shared fourth place on 12 under.
After his thrilling victory, Naidoo said: "I really don't know what to say. After a lot of really difficult times, a lot of times where I thought I'd do this earlier in my career ...
"This is a special moment for me, it's a special moment for everybody here in Durban - it's overwhelming.
"I said yesterday it felt like I was Tiger Woods (due to the bumper crowds following him). There were so many people.
"All the energy that I had, I can't thank everyone enough for coming out yesterday and today. I'm speechless."
Speaking about the chip that ultimately earned him victory, Naidoo added: "That type of shot is my bread and butter; a little low skipper. The boys who play practice rounds with me know that I do that all the time.
"I didn't have a lot of fear on the shot, it was actually a really nice shot for me to have in the moment. I was more worried about the putt. That putter went back a little squiggly!"
Additional reporting by the europeantour.com.
@JohnGoliath82