Titch hits home run in P.E.
Friday, 10 Oct 2014
courtesy: www.sunshinetour.co.za
Titch Moore birdied the 18th at Humewood Golf Club on Friday to win the inaugural Sun Boardwalk Golf Challenge by one shot.
“It’s inspiring to play in front of home fans and I’ve got a great support base here from my family and my dad. To win here in front of the locals is awesome,” he said.
The Port Elizabeth local came from behind during the final round and secured the ninth win of his career, which gave the home crowds reason to celebrate.
“I was playing nicely coming into this week, but haven’t been able to finish off the events over the past few months. I been working hard on my putting and to succeed today is a phenomenal feeling,” he said.
Roberto Lupini led by two shots at the start of the day, but the Big Easy Tour graduate was unable to hold onto his lead and shot 73 to slip back to three-under for the tournament. He none-the-less made a good challenge for the title and birdied the 17th before coming painfully close to sinking a long birdie putt at the 18th that would have forced a playoff.
“Roberto played nicely on the Big Easy Tour this year and he finished one behind today, so hats off to him,” Moore said.
Port Elizabeth is known as the windy city for good reason, but on Friday the initial wet and breezy conditions lifted and by the time Moore raised the trophy it was a beautiful day on the edge of Algoa Bay.
“The conditions swapped around today. We played with a bit of rain this morning coming downwind and then it switched to an easterly breeze. That makes the back nine a little tougher, but I kept it in play nicely,” he added.
England’s Steve Surry made a bid for the trophy with a round of 70 that included five birdies, but he was left to a share of second alongside Lupini.
Peter Karmis and wind specialist Heinrich Bruiners both shot 69 to tie for fourth, while Ryan Tipping, Doug McGuigan and Ulrich van den Berg shared sixth place on one-under-par.
It was a nail-biting final round, but in the end Moore pulled through for his second title of the 2014 season.
“I’ve been playing nicely for a while now and the win at the Telkom Business PGA Championship in April was big. We’re starved of decent sport here in Port Elizabeth and to win in front of the home fans is a treat,” he said.
By Mike Taylor at Sunshine Tour. Article © Sunshine Tour
