Lawrence holds on to win Investec South African Open.....Cockerill moves up.. final results

 DP World Tour: Investec South African Open Results

Thriston Lawrence held off Clément Sordet to win the Investec South African Open Championship despite a nerve-wracking finish.

Lawrence had a five-shot lead early on the back nine at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate but was reeled in by his playing partner before getting over the line by one stroke at 16 under par.

At the presentation ceremony – after dropping the trophy off its base and catching it one-handed – Lawrence said: “This is what you strive for, being a kid you dream for this moment, to win such a prestigious event in front of an amazing crowd.”

Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring finished third on his own at 14 under after a closing 70.

Sordet made the perfect start, with birdie at the first while Lawrence's bogey wiped out his two-shot overnight lead. 

But the reigning Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year regained the initiative as a wonderful approach to the fourth set up birdie - and a three-shot swing as the Frenchman made a double-bogey six.

Sordet birdied the 14th and when Lawrence’s par putt slid just past, the lead was down to three with a dramatic finish back on the agenda.

Lawrence found water down the left of the next and could only pitch up from a path for double bogey.

Sordet was in deep rough next to a greenside bunker but got up and down for par to take a further two out of the lead – and it was all square with two to play after Lawrence bogeyed the next.

After all that drama the Frenchman missed a short putt for a bogey at the 17th, then he found a bunker off the last tee.

Lawrence was safely in the middle of the fairway and a fine approach, combined with only a par for Sordet, meant he could even afford a three-putt from the fringe of the green for the title.

Aaron Cockerill was never in contention, however after making the cut 68 74 -2 he made the most of his weekend battling this 8,000 yard Blair Atholl GC to a 72 69 weekend good to finish T35 -5 worth 15 points and $14,230 for his week in Joburg.

Next week it's the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane at the Leopard Creek GC which borders the spectacular Kruger National Park. Malelane, an old farming town 400 kilometers NE of Joburg has grown substantially with the construction of a national highway and the subsequent rise in tourism.

Bryan Angus