Hinton birdies closing hole to win Jo’burg City Masters

Craig Hinton finally shook off the bridesmaid tag on the MENA Golf Tour, winning the Jo’burg City Masters, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, with a birdie on the closing hole at Glendower Golf Club on Wednesday.

Starting the day three shots off the pace, the 27-year-old Englishman from Thame closed with a 4-under 68 to finish 7-under for the tournament, two clear of a four-man group which included N.J. Arnoldi and David Ashley, who both carded matching 66s.

A four-time runner-up on the MENA Golf Tour, Hinton eagled the par-4, seventh and birdied the next two holes to get his nose in front for the first time in the tournament.

He dropped a shot on the par-5, 15th after making the turn at four under, but held his nerve, capping his round with a birdie for his maiden win on the MENA Golf Tour.

“It was a good yardage for the club I had. I was a little indecisive – I mean I slightly pulled it, but it was nice to have a tap-in,” said Hinton about his finish on the challenging par-four 18th.

Hinton’s brilliant approach shot on the 18th wasn’t his only special moment during the final round. An eagle-two at the par-four seventh sparked the momentum for his title run.

“It was a slow start, but the eagle on seven sort of kick-started the round. I had a couple birdies after that and it kind of gave me a chance to win the tournament,” said Hinton after receiving the winner’s trophy.

“I though I’d get to 10 – 10 was in my head. When I got to seven early through the front nine I thought there were a lot of chances on the back nine. I looked at the scoreboard at four and no one really had made the charge. I just sort of made par coming in.” said Hinton.

Hinton’s approach of looking at the leaderboards throughout the round is one some golfers don’t agree with, but for him it’s a way of calming himself and knowing what he needs to do.

“I looked at every single one. Yeah, it’s good to know here you are. Walking up 18, I even asked one of the rules officials what the guys were doing behind. I think you need to know what you need to do up the last and if you can take a risk or not take a risk,” explained Hinton.

“I love the golf course. It suites my eye the whole way around and there wasn’t one tee shot I didn’t enjoy. It’s a great golf course in great condition and I look forward to coming back sometime,” said Hinton.

On a layout which required precision and nerve, overnight leader Siphiwe Siphayi of South Africa fell away after dropping three shots in his first five holes.

He responded with a couple of birdies and an eagle (on the 15th), but kept bleeding shots along the way, eventually settling for a 74 to finish in a tie for ninth on three-under along with England’s Luke Joy, a two-time winner on the MENA Golf Tour.

The South African duo of Omar Sandys and Riekus Nortje carded 67 and 69 respectively for a share of second as David Meyers won the amateur division on a level-par after returning a final round 74.

The MENA Golf Tour will travel to Pretoria for the third and final event — The Roar — in South Africa this season to be held at Waterkloof Golf Club from June 22 to 24.

Leading scores (par-72):

-7 Craig Hinton (ENG) 71 70 68
-5 N.J. Arnoldi (RSA) 77 68 66
-5 David Ashley (ENG) 77 68 66
-5 Omar Sandys (RSA) 74 70 67
-5 Riekus Nortje (RSA) 73 69 69
-4 Francois Coetzee (RSA) 77 71 64
-4 Jaco Prinsloo (RSA) 69 77 66
-4 Sipho Bujela (RSA) 72 72 68
-3 Luke Joy (ENG) 73 72 68
-3 Pieter Kruger (RSA) 74 67 72
-3 Siphiwe Siphayi (RSA) 74 64 75

Source : Arab News