Persistent Watson wins Volvo SA Mid-Amateur

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Watson carded rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 73 at Ruimsig Country Club to claim a four shot victory over Modderfontein’s Steve Williams on a winning score of four-under-par 284.

In the last three years, the country’s former number one notched a fourth, third and second in the prestigious championship, and not even a bogey finish could detract from his joy at lifting the title.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” the 47-year-old Ekurhuleni golfer said.

“I didn’t think I would get the chance to win this championship. It has been touch and go with my knee injury and I had to curtail my schedule, so this was really do or die.

“The wind was pumping and the course was playing very, very tough and I thought I threw it away at the start. I’m pleased that I clawed my way back to win, because this is a huge box ticked in my career.”

Watson set out with a four shot overnight lead, but a triple bogey start nearly ruined his chances.

“I three-putted the first and third holes,” Watson said.

“That opened the door for Steve, who picked up two birdies to close the gap. The birdie at the 10th gave me a little breathing room, but when I plugged my tee shot in the face of the first fairway bunker at the 12th, I thought it was game over.”

Standing on the 18th tee with a four shot lead, Watson took a gamble and paid the price.

“The 18th was always going to be a gamble,” he said.

“The tee was set right at the back, so three-wood brings the water on the right into play and driver the water on the left. If you laid up, you couldn’t get it past the bunkers.

“So, I went with driver and caught the water on the left. It one of those things; you just have to look ahead. My second caught the greenside bunker and I hit a pretty decent trap shot, but then left the putt short. But this is one of those times I don’t mind a bogey finish at all.”

He closed with an even-par 70 to take second on 288.