Thomas Aiken ensured that the South African dominance of the Africa Open would continue, after he overcame England’s Oliver Fisher in a playoff to claim his third win on the European Tour.
The 30-year-old former South African Amateur of the Year, would hole a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole of sudden death to become the sixth home winner in the event’s seven year history at East London Golf Club.
With many unproven winners in contention coming into the final round, tension was in the air at the exquisite course. That was no more evident than in 54-hole leader Emiliano Grillo, whose march towards a maiden victory collapsed at the opening hole.
The talented 21-year-old, who has been riding on emotion since the recent death of his father, would open with a quintuple bogey-nine on the first. Having secured a two shot lead after his brilliant third round of 62, the Argentinian would take a penalty drop from an unplayable lie, before finding the greenside bunker. Having failed to hit out of the bunker at the first attempt, Grillo’s sixth shot would roll off the green. A chip and two putts would follow, for the recent runner-up of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
However, Grillo would illustrate his talent and strength of character, by finishing with a barrage of five consecutive birdies to salvage a more than credible tie for fifth.
Thomas Aiken’s own progression to eventual victory was capitulated following an eagle on the third, before two crucial birdies at the 15th and 16th saw him complete a final round of 67, to finish at 20-under par.
Fisher, whose only victory on Tour came over two years ago in the Czech Republic, started the round with a bogey, but rebounded with birdies at the third, fourth and sixth. Dropped shots at the seventh and 13th would ultimately prove costly, but he ensured of his participation in the playoff after birdies at the 14th and 15th. However, outright victory was cruelly taken away after his 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th narrowly missed.
“I’ve been waiting for this for quite some time; I’ve won a couple of times overseas, but there is nothing like winning in front of a home crowd,” said Aiken, who has finished fifth in his last two starts on the Tour.
“The South African fans have been unbelievable throughout my whole career so it’s nice to finally get one for you guys.”
Aiken, channelling the likes of Patrick Reed on the PGA Tour, had his wife Kate on the bag this week for the first time. And he was full of praise for his new caddie. “Thanks so much to my wife, who helped me on the bag for the first time – we might have to do it again!
“East London Golf Club, what a fantastic golf club. It shows that a course doesn’t need to be long for it to play interestingly.
“I always love coming back here, and it’s so great to finally get this trophy under my belt.”
As Thomas Aiken moves up to 8th on the Race to Dubai, the regular European Tour takes a week-long break, as the world of golf places its attention on Tuscon for the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship.