Johannes Veerman claimed his second DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion after firing a stunning final-round 69 to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge by a single shot.
Veerman started the day five strokes off the lead but carded six birdies and three bogeys in testing conditions to set a five-under-par clubhouse target for the final groups to aim at.
And it went right to the wire, with a bogey on the last denying South African Aldrich Potgieter the chance to face Veerman in a playoff.
Potgieter had looked on course to claim a memorable home win when the third-round leader restored his three-shot overnight advantage with a birdie at the 10th.
But on a breathless afternoon at Gary Player Country Club, the 20-year-old surrendered a triple-bogey at the par-three 12th to hand Veerman a shock lead.
There were twists and turns still to come, though, as for the second day in succession the 14th gave Potgieter cause for hope, with a brilliant birdie putting him back in front.
But with Veerman safely parring the 18th to head into the clubhouse on five under, Potgieter bogeyed the 16th to join him on that number before missing a good birdie chance on the 17th.
That left the pair locked together at the summit as Potgieter teed off on the 18th, where a closing bogey handed Veerman an emotional victory on his Sun City debut.
Aldirch Potgieter missed this putt to force a play-off which meant Johannes Veerman claimed his second Tour title 🙌#NGC2024 pic.twitter.com/aHKEu8s6sm
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 8, 2024
Potgieter, Romain Langasque and Matthew Jordan finished in a tie for second one shot behind Veerman.
Veerman got off to a mixed start on Sunday, taking advantage of the long 2nd for the fourth day in a row from four feet before giving the shot straight back at the 3rd.
The American bounced back courtesy of a delightful 20-foot birdie putt at the par-three 4th, only to bogey the 5th.
Another lengthy birdie putt dropped at the 6th before 2021 D+D Real Czech Masters winner Veerman closed the front nine with a tap-in birdie.
Further gains followed at the 11th and 14th courtesy of more wonderful putting, and Veerman found himself at the summit when Potgieter ran into trouble at the 12th.
A bogey on the 16th dropped Veerman back to five under before he safely parred the final two holes to set a target that no one could match.
“I knew I had a chance but actually thought I might have lost it on the 16th when I three-putted and missed that putt. That one really hurt but it doesn’t even matter!”
– Edited report from DP World Tour website
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
