Shaun Norris opened the final round of the Steyn City Championship on the DP World Tour with a four-shot lead.
After seven holes, he found himself training Dean Burmester by a shot. After 10 holes, Norris was down two. Things swung back the other way on the par-4 17th when Norris birdied the hole while Burmester double-bogeyed it.
At the end of this rollercoaster day, Norris, with his younger brother Kyle on the bag, shot a Sunday 70 to finish 25 under and win by three shots for his first DP World Tour victory in his 144th start.
Having family on hand made the day even sweeter. Standing next to his wife and holding his baby Riley-Grace, Norris, who shot a 62 on Friday, said “I don’t think words can describe how I feel right now.
“It’s been a tough journey and having my brother on the bag, my wife here, my little girl – splendid, I can’t explain.”
Norris, 39, led a parade of South Africans, who claimed the top three spots at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg.
“It’s absolutely beautiful doing this in front of my home crowd and in front of my family.”
It’s the tenth professional victory for Norris. Burmester was solo second at 22 under. Oliver Bekker and Matti Schmid finished tied for third, six shots back.
Norris went into Sunday’s final round four shots clear of his nearest challenger but saw his lead cut early on as he made bogeys at the second and fourth to fall back to 21 under.
Burmester then closed the gap to one stroke with a birdie at the sixth, as Norris’ slow start continued.
The turning point came at the par-four seventh, where Burmester holed his second shot from a tricky spot to the right of the green for an unexpected eagle to catapult himself into the lead.
A strong par save at the eighth followed for Burmester before he parred the ninth to head to the turn with a one-shot advantage.
After finding the tenth green in two blows, Burmester tapped in his birdie putt to move two clear, as Norris made a sixth successive par.
There was a three-shot swing at the 17th as Norris made a magnificent birdie and Burmester carded a double-bogey six.
And Norris was able to enjoy his victory on the 18th, sharing the moment with family on the green.
An emotional Norris, who was joined by his baby daughter Riley-Grace, said: “I don’t think words can describe how I feel right now.
“It’s been a tough journey and having my brother on the bag, my wife here, my little girl – splendid, I can’t explain.
“It’s absolutely beautiful doing this in front of my home crowd and in front of my family.”
