Van Tonder breaks through on the big stage
South Africa’s Daniel van Tonder out lasted Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond in a three hole sudden death playoff to win the his first European Tour title at the Kenya Savannah Classic.
Van Tonder birdied the final hole to card a 7-under-par 64 finishing at 21-under with Janewattananond to force the playoff. After regulation pars on the first two playoff holes van Tonder buried the third to gain his victory.
Daniel van Tonder (Credit: European Tour)
It was van Tonder’s fifth win in eight months after winning four times on the secondary Sunshine Tour. Van Tonder becomes the second South African to win in a week on the European Tour after Justin Harding claimed victory at the Kenya Open.
“I felt at the first tournament I wasn’t swinging it as well or trusting my shape,” said van Tonder. “I missed the cut by one…I didn’t let that get us down, I worked hard in the few days and it worked this week.”
WITB: Daniel van Tonder
- Titleist Pro V1x Golf Ball
- Titleist TSi3 Driver (8º)
- Titleist TSi2 3W (13.5º)
- Titleist TSi2 5W (18º)
- Titleist 716 MB (3), Titleist 718 MB (4-PW)
- Titleist Vokey Design SM8 Wedges (53, 63)
- Scotty Cameron Futura 5MB Putter
“I’ve had wins on the Sunshine Tour, but this win is very special. It’s very exciting. We’ve been working hard. It took a while, but it came and I’m very happy – my wife is over the moon. I’ve been waiting for a while and finally it came.”
Scott Hend finished as leading Australian in a share of 42nd position finishing at 9-under after a final round 67, while Maverick Antcliff finished a shot behind after a final round of 72.
The European Tour is on a week-long break and will resume with the first major of the year, the Masters at Augusta National on 8-11th April with the first regular European Tour event starting on 15th April at the Austrian Open.
