Bekker triumphant in his home town

GEORGE NEWS - Oliver Bekker, a proud Georgian, last week became only the third person in the history of the Dimension Data Pro-Am to win the title multiple times when he secured a four-shot victory over Swede Adam Blomme.

Bekker, who first won the tournament in 2012, ended victorious over the course of four rounds by securing the third-best score to par in the tournament's history.

His score of 22-under-par is eclipsed only by Alexander Knappe's -23 in 2022 and Christiaan Bezuidenhout's -25 in 2021. It's also nine shots better than the score he carded for his victory in 2012.

His 2023 triumph is probably the sweeter victory of the two, both for the personal factors at play and his experience of the courses that came in handy in the final two rounds.

Bekker was born in Pretoria. He attended Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and used to lived there, playing from Stellenbosch Golf Club for the bulk of his professional career. However, in 2020 he moved to George and is now an ambassador of Fancourt, making it his new home club.

Bekker embraces his two children who rushed onto the green after his triumph.

Hometown advantage

The hometown advantage made him a tournament favourite before things even kicked off on Thursday 9 February. A first-round score of 66 on the Links course put him at tied-fourth and four shots off the lead. The three courses at Fancourt – The Links, Montagu and Outeniqua – are used

in rotation for the tournament with Montagu hosting the final round on Sunday.

Bekker played Montagu in the second round, where he carded a score of 68 to put him at -10 and two shots off the lead. Fellow Saffa and Swede Adam Blomme were tied for the lead at -12. Going into moving day on Saturday, the very scoreable Outeniqua course lay in wait for Bekker in the third round. He took full advantage of this, and catapulted to the top of the leaderboard at -18. He now held a five-shot lead, ahead of Jerling on -13. Blomme stayed on -12 after playing level-par on Saturday.

Bekker watches one of his drives closely during the final round on Sunday.

A measured final round

Heading into the final round with plenty of experience, Bekker knew all he had to do was remain calm and play the same consistent golf he'd been playing all week. He and Jerling made up the final pairing and from the very first hole it was evident who the crowds were there to support.

Bekker's final round started somewhat slow, but still consistent. He parred his first seven holes, ultimately breaking the duck on hole eight with a welcome birdie.

South African Hennie O'Kennedy came storming through the field with a bogey-free round of 65 to finish on 16 under par, and only two shots behind Bekker before his eighth-hole birdie. By the time Bekker finally moved to -19, Blomme had also come charging, standing on four-under for the day and -16 overall, tied for second with O'Kennedy and three off the lead.

But, not enough birdies on the back nine for Blomme combined with a three-under back nine for Bekker meant the local boy was simply out of reach. Blomme had carded a very respectable six-under 66 for his final round, but Bekker's final round of 68 meant he had put together an unassailable lead at the top of the leaderboard.

Oliver Bekker (right) and his final round playing partner, Luke Jerling, approach the 8th green.

In special company

This triumph placed Bekker in some pretty illustrious company. He joined legendary Zimbabwean Nick Price (1997 and 1998) and veteran SA golfer Darren Fichardt (2004 and 2010) as only the third golfer to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am twice since the tournament's inception in 1996.

The win sees Bekker walk away R1,1m richer and takes him into third place on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

"When you start with such a big lead it's almost a relief that you didn't waste it. It's amazing to be here in front of my family and friends. It's not often you play a golf tournament and you've got a hundred people following you and you know almost all of them. I'm just elated," said Bekker shortly after his win.

"I did watch the scoreboard quite a bit and played rather safe. I didn't try to be too aggressive and make any unforced errors. The course was there for the taking today, but I didn't want to disappoint anybody and still go out there and put together a good final round."

Bekker salutes the crowd applauding him as he approaches the 18th green.