George Coetzee claimed the 15th title of his Sunshine Tour career with a three-stroke victory in the Serengeti Playoffs on Sunday, and with it also secured the first win of the new Courier Guy Playoffs Series.
Coetzee signed for a solid 69 to win on 19 under par at Serengeti Estates. Daniel van Tonder finished second on 16 under par with a final round of 69.
After a slow and steady start with regular pars on the first seven holes, Coetzee made an eagle on the par-five 8th hole and added a further two birdies and just one bogey that was enough to ensure him a victory.
“It was a very busy day for me in my head,” he said. “I tried to stay in my lane and do what I have to do, follow my routines and to follow my game plan to play as well as possible. Things worked today, but you never know. It took me like five holes just to feel like it was me playing, and around the middle of the round it started to feel a little better.”
For Coetzee, after returning from injury and celebrating the birth of his child in this time, this victory was very special.
“You want to do stuff that your kids can be proud of, like I am proud of my parents and I want my kid to be proud of me.”
With the victory Coetzee moves up with 48 places on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy to the 28th spot, securing a place in next week’s tournament – the season-ending DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB.
The top 50 players on the Order of Merit after this event progress to the DNi Tour Championship presented by RMB at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate, which will bring down the curtain on the 2024-25 season.
Playing in the leading group on Sunday, Van Tonder, the current leader on the Order of Merit, pushed hard on the final day but could not close in on Coetzee.
Stefan Wears-Taylor’s eight-under 64 in the final round moved him into a share of third place on 14 under par with youngsters Kyle de Beer (67) and Stals Swart (70).
Altin van der Merwe ended the tournament in a share of sixth place on 13 under par with a 68, and thereby secured his place as the current leader on the Fortress Top Rookie of the Year standings with the final tournament of the season to come.
Photo: Tyrone WInfield/Sunshine Tour
