JC Ritchie is the Limpopo Championship champion yet again after claiming a two stroke win on Sunday, following a brilliant fourth and final round 67, writes ANDRE HUISAMEN.
The 25-year-old, who also won the Gauteng Team Championship with Jaco Prinsloo last week, started the final round in T2 with Jacques Kruyswijk holding the lead heading into Sunday’s action.
But Ritchie provided early pressure on Kruyswijk with three birdies on the front nine of the Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate course, while the overnight leader started with two bogeys and a double drop shot on the first nine.
It provided Ritchie with the opportunity to really create a lead after turning for the back nine.
And he did exactly that as Kruyswijk’s round began to crumble ever further.
In the end it was a battle between Ritchie and Wilco Nienaber to see who will walk away with the title.
Nienaber also had a pretty decent round, coming home in 67 after starting his final round in T4 alongside Hennie du Plessis.
The young Nienaber managed a spectacular eagle on the par 4, 7th hole, while he also had a composed finish on the back nine.
But, the win was all but sealed for Ritchie when he birdied the 16th hole before concluding with two pars on the final two holes – another bogey-free round to clinch the title with a winning score of 19 under par.
Nienamber came home in 17 under par for second place, while Du Plessis managed T3 on 14 under alongside Kruyswijk – Louis de Jager in 5th spot, a further stroke back.
