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.
@JohnGoliath82
@JohnGoliath82
