2013 on the European Tour came to its conclusion on Saturday in Durban, with South African Dawie van der Walt claiming the Nelson Mandela Championship. Coming less than a week after the passing of South Africa’s iconic first black president, there was an added poignancy to this event that had to be reduced to 54-holes to due to the effects of a persistent heavy deluge.
The 30-year-old, who won the Tshwane Open in March, shot a final round of 66 at Mount Edgecome to finish two shots ahead of England’s Matthew Baldwin and Spain’s Jorge Campillo, who was one of two players to shoot second rounds of 59. Unfortunately, his, and Colin Nel’s, efforts will not be officially recognised, with preferred lies in play on the course meaning that neither round would enter the European Tour’s history books.
Par at the course had also been reduced to 70, due to the conditions, and it was somewhat reminscent of last year’s inaurgual event, when Scott Jamieson shot a final round of 57 on a par reduced layout to win the 36-hole shorterened event.
However, it was to be van der Walt’s week, and the player born in Paarl was hugely emototional and proud after claiming a title bearing the name of the late president.
“It’s obviously really special, making you a part of history,” said van der Walt.
”Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it’s sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow’s the big day, it means a lot and it’s something I can keep close to my heart for ever.”
The event had been moved to a Wednesday-Sunday schedule, in recognition of the national day of mourning in South Africa coinciding with Nelson Mandela’s state funeral.
This victory was somewhat unexpected for van der Walt, despite his maiden win earlier in the year. Since that triumph, his progress has been blighted by injury problems and poor form that had seen the South African make just one cut before this week.
He we would claim the outright lead with an eagle on the 12th, and he would subsequently look assured in his march towards the title.
“I haven’t been in that good form, I’ve been struggling with an injury, so this is almost overwhelming,” stated van der Walt, who has also now claimed the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit for 2013.
”To win the last event of the year is going to make Christmas a lot more fun.”
Van der Walt had started the day in second behind Daniel Brooks, but the young Englishman would drop six shots in his first seven holes suddenly leaving the tournament wide open.
Three birdies in four holes on his front-nine would see van der Walt join Matt Baldwin at the summit of the leaderboard, but his challenge looked to have been derailed after dropped shots at the eighth and 11th.
However, he would bounced back in superb fashion with that eagle on the par five 12th, and he would take full control of the championship after further birdies at the 13th and 15th.
Campillo and Nel, the two 59-heroes from Friday, would post final rounds of 68, with the Spaniard claiming his highest European Tour finish. Talented Frenchman Romain Wattel would finish in fourth, three back of the lead, and he will be left to regret a triple bogey eight on the par five eighth in his second round.
Van der Walt added: “Once I got that birdie on 15, I was pretty comfortable that the tournament was mine to lose. I wasn’t sure what the guys behind me were doing, but I knew that they would have to go for birdies if they were to force a play-off.
“So I was pretty relaxed coming home – it helped that I had been in that position before.”
With the Tour now taking a hiatus until the Joburg Open in the New Year, the final word goes to the final champion of 2013.
Van der Walt added: “Once I got that birdie on 15, I was pretty comfortable that the tournament was mine to lose. I wasn’t sure what the guys behind me were doing, but I knew that they would have to go for birdies if they were to force a play-off.
“So I was pretty relaxed coming home – it helped that I had been in that position before.”