Emotional Purchase claims maiden victory at Fortress Invitational

Warwick Purchase with his caddie Charley Msiza, who received a Sunshine Tour medallion for the winning caddie. Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour

Sunshine Tour rookie Warwick Purchase withstood a few final-round challenges on his way to a maiden victory in the Fortress Invitational at Glendower Golf Club on Sunday.

Purchase, who held a three-shot lead going into the final round, had to endure a strong charge from the experienced Kyle Barker and a weather delay before closing with a 70 for victory on 19-under par.

Barker signed for a 69 to finish tied second with Fortress Rookie of the Year leader Mexico’s Luis Carrera (65) on 17-under par.

“I’m so happy to get the job done today. There were a couple of doubts going into the back nine and I had a bit of a tricky finish coming in,” said an emotional Purchase.

“I’m really proud of myself. I fought hard and dug deep. Right now, I’m a bit overwhelmed but I’m so overjoyed. I’ve had a tough time the last few months on the golf course, so to go on and do it this week, it’s awesome.”

Purchase came into this week’s tournament having missed the cut in his previous four events on the Sunshine Tour and admitted it felt incredibly rewarding to finally break through with a maiden victory.

“Right now, it means absolutely everything to me. It’s obviously a goal and something I have been working towards. That’s why we practice every day and why we get up every morning. I’m really happy,” Purchase said.

With his victory, Purchase moves into second place behind Carrera on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings.

Another strong finish by Carrera sees him climb into third place on the Sunshine Tour’s Courier Guy Order of Merit.

Tyrone Ryan closed with a 68 to take fourth place on 16-under par.

Scores

269 - Warwick Purchase 66 71 62 70

271 - Luis Carrera 72 70 64 65, Kyle Barker 69 67 66 69

272 - Tyrone Ryan 68 68 68 68

276 - Jonathan Broomhead 68 68 72 68, Daniel van Tonder 66 69 69 72

277 - Dylan Frittelli 73 68 67 69

278 - Benjamin Van Wyk 65 73 70 70

279 - Kyle De Beer 69 69 72 69, Rhys Enoch 69 67 76 67, Martin Vorster 66 75 68 70, Tyran Snyders 66 72 70 71, Rupert Kaminski 72 67 69 71, Pieter Moolman 68 72 68 71

280 - Benjamin Follett-Smith 65 73 72 70, Trevor Fisher Jnr 71 70 69 70, Graham van der Merwe 72 69 69 70, Jaco Prinsloo 68 73 69 70, CJ du Plessis 68 70 71 71, Michael Hollick 71 70 73 66, Christiaan Burke 68 67 71 74

281 - Kieron van Wyk 69 73 68 71, Samuel Simpson 74 69 67 71, Heinrich Bruiners 69 69 69 74

282 - Jason Roets 67 70 73 72, Jacques P de Villiers 72 71 67 72, Neil Schietekat 70 71 72 69, Keagan Thomas 71 72 71 68, Haydn Porteous 73 68 73 68, Stephen Ferreira 71 71 66 74

283 - Luke Brown 69 73 67 74, Deon Germishuys 67 69 71 76

284 - Lyle Rowe 69 73 71 71, James Mack 69 69 70 76

285 - Keelan van Wyk 72 71 68 74, Herman Loubser 73 69 69 74, Justin Walters 68 72 71 74, Otto Van Buynder 70 73 70 72, Mikkel Antonsen 69 68 71 77, Gerhard Pepler 70 72 72 71

286 - Louis Albertse 67 75 71 73, Karabo Mokoena 71 70 72 73

287 - Pierre Viallaneix 70 68 72 77, Allen John 71 72 69 75, Keenan Davidse 72 70 70 75, Keegan Mclachlan 69 71 73 74, Kyle McClatchie 68 75 71 73, Ryan van der Klis 72 70 76 69

288 - JJ Senekal 70 72 72 74

289 - Matthew Spacey 67 76 71 75, Keanu Pestana 75 68 73 73, Hayden Griffiths 71 72 74 72

290 - Ulrich van den Berg 72 67 75 76

294 - Hennie Otto 68 73 74 79

296 - Thomas Spreadborough 70 70 82 74