Dan Bradbury secures second Joburg Open title with challenging par save.
JOHANNESBURG — Dan Bradbury from England executed a flawless chip at a crucial moment, securing par on the final hole Sunday with a 5-under 65, clinching a one-shot victory in the Joburg Open.
His pivotal par on the 18th hole at Houghton Golf Club thwarted Casey Jarvis of South Africa from becoming the third player in European tour history to win three consecutive tournaments, joining Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros.
Brandon Robinson Thompson was tied for the lead, playing one group ahead of Bradbury, when he three-putted the 18th green from approximately 45 feet, resulting in a bogey and a score of 66.
Bradbury previously won the Joburg Open in the fall of 2022, marking his first victory on the European tour. The English golfer, who concluded his college career at Florida State, also claimed the French Open title in 2024.
“I thought I’d lost it on the front nine. I had so many chances and didn’t take them,” remarked Bradbury, who began the final round two strokes behind Hennie Du Plessis. “It feels really good to put it together. I somehow managed to get it done at the end.”
Jarvis was coming off victories at the Kenya Open and the South African Open, the latter of which secured him entries into the Masters and British Open. He was one shot behind when he executed an impressive approach on the par-4 18th that just cleared a ridge and rolled down to 7 feet.
However, he pulled his birdie putt and recognized it immediately, walking toward the hole. He finished with a score of 66.
This left the outcome in Bradbury’s hands, whose approach shot rolled over the green into the rough. He chipped it over a slight hill, and it rolled with ideal pace toward the cup, stopping just inches short for his par and the victory.
Du Plessis had been in control after a 31 on the front nine but faltered on the back nine with two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 15th, which eliminated him from contention. He concluded with a score of 70, finishing in fourth place.
The tournament was co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.
