Louis Oosthuizen might be the one holding the trophy after the Africa Open this weekend, but there are two more South Africans that will also be very happy with how the tournament went.
Former British Open champion Oosthuizen held off a strong challenge from compatriot Tjaart van der Walt to claim a two-shot victory and defend his title.
Van der Walt's second place in the Africa Open
Second place might not seem like a victory for Van der Walt, but for someone that has had a very rough time of it until quite recently, it will be like a breath of fresh air.
By the end of 2009, Tjaart was struggling along on the Nationwide Tour on a medical exemption without much hope of earning enough money to keep his card. But he was still eligible for a few events on the Sunshine Tour, so he decided to come home and try his luck on more familiar shores.
Thankfully it paid off and he started to play well again; he finished 16th on the 2010 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and recently earned his 2012 European Tour card through Q-school – but only just, he qualified right on the number.
Because of his second place in the Africa Open Van der Walt, is already well on his way to keeping his European Tour card for next year as well.
A player can retain his card by finishing in the top 115 on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. Last year 115th spot was held by Ireland’s Damien McGrane who earned €258 939.
Tjaart’s second place in the Africa Open earned him €115 000, so he is almost halfway there already.
Sterne's comeback from injury
The other story that is worth mentioning is that of Richard Sterne who finished sixth. The course record holder at East London Golf Club – where the Africa Open is hosted – has been out of action for almost a year because of a serious back injury.
“I have three bulging discs in various places in my back and I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis,” Sterne explained.
“Unfortunately there is no overnight cure for this type of injury and the recovery process is a long one. At the start I wasn’t patient enough and didn’t give the therapy a proper chance to work."
The injury forced Sterne into a form of early retirement where he could hardly play or practice his golf at all.
And he couldn’t have hoped for his return to go any better.
Four solid under-par rounds, including a very impressive 64 in the third round saw him grab sixth place on his own. Obviously winning the event would have been better, but playing as well as he did after nearly an entire year out of the game is very impressive.
Who were you most impressed by in the Africa Open?
