Stellar finish for SA pair in Australia

Dylan Frittelli finished joint runner-up while Sunshine Tour rookie Zander Lombard enjoyed his biggest payday with a fourth place finish in the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland on Sunday.

Frittelli, South Africa’s top ranked amateur in 2011, carded a final round 75 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort to tie Harold Varner III from the United States and Australia’s Nathan Holman at even-par 288 at the end of regulation play.

The trio returned to the par-four 18th for a sudden-death play-off, where the home favourite edged out his challengers with par to claim a career-changing maiden European Tour title.

Frittelli’s joint second finish followed on a tie for 11th in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek last week and rocketed the Johannesburg professional to fourth in the 2016 Race to Dubai.

“I fought hard today, made a couple mistakes early but really showed my mettle and finished strongly on the back nine with a one under,” Frittelli said.

“I’m very proud of the way I played. I struggled on the greens this week, but I was amazing off the tee and into the greens. That is something really positive I’ll take out of this and I will certainly take the experience in the play-off as something I’ll use in the future.”

Meanwhile Tshwane professional Lombard, who topped the South African Open Amateur rankings in 2014, closed with a 76 to finish just a stroke shy of the three-way tie at the top.

The two-time IGT Tour champion was thrilled to bank a cheque worth €60,067.

“To finish my rookie season this way is a great pay-off for all the hard work that has gone into this year,” said the former SA number one amateur.

“I am looking forward to the break, but I’m going to try and keep sharp. I would love start the South African Open Championship on the same note as I have finished the 2015 season so I can put myself in the running for a shot at the Chase to the Investec Cup.”

SA LEADERBOARD
213 Zander Lombard; Dylan Frittelli
294 Colin Nel 78 71 75 70
297 Erik van Rooyen 76 71 75 75
299 Rourke van der Spuy 76 73 75 75
300 Tyrone Mordt 79 71 76 74
301 Darryn Lloyd 78 72 75 76
304 JC Ritchie 76 72 80 76
305 Andrew Curlewis 76 72 77 80;
306 Divan van der Heever 76 74 80 76

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