Maiden win for Simpson at Mopani Zambia Open

Samuel Simpson. Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour

Samuel Simpson’s final round of three-under-par 69 was enough to finally end Herman Loubser’s dominance of this year’s Mopani Zambia Open and earn the young South African his first victory on the Sunshine Tour.

Simpson’s bogey-free final round at the Nkana Golf Club earned him a one-stroke victory over Loubser on 11-under par.

Loubser, who had been at the top of the leaderboard since the first round, struggled with a closing 76 to take second place on 10-under.

Luke Jerling, JJ Senekal and Lyle Rowe shared third place on nine-under.

Simpson teed off the final round five shots behind Loubser. But it was his ability to limit his mistakes on a final day when Loubser struggled to do the same in a round of three bogeys and one double bogey that made the difference.

However, Loubser’s commanding lead meant he and Simpson were still tied for the lead on 11-under through 17 holes.

But Loubser’s bogey on the 18th hole ensured the victory went to Simpson.

Simpson is the second maiden winner on the Sunshine Tour this season after the opening five tournaments following Luis Carrera from Mexico.

Scores

277 - Samuel Simpson 72 65 71 69

278 - Herman Loubser 67 67 68 76

279 - Luke Jerling 70 68 73 68, JJ Senekal 70 71 70 68, Lyle Rowe 71 70 68 70

280 - Jacques P de Villiers 69 73 72 66, Xander Basson 74 67 68 71

281 - Hennie Otto 67 71 69 74

282 - Liam Grehan 75 66 75 66, Gerhard Pepler 75 72 68 67, Wynand Dingle 72 71 70 69, Warwick Purchase 69 70 73 70, Martin Vorster 73 70 69 70, Jacques Blaauw 73 66 71 72, Ethan Smith 71 71 66 74

283 - MJ Viljoen 68 70 75 70, Jaco Prinsloo 76 69 68 70

284 - Louis Albertse 71 74 72 67, Luke Brown 74 66 73 71

285 - Matthew Spacey 71 67 77 70, Dayne Moore 72 71 72 70, Kyle De Beer 72 71 71 71, Simon du Plooy 71 72 70 72, Fredrik From 68 72 72 73, Ryan van der Klis 73 69 69 74, Ruan Korb 74 71 66 74, Robson Chinhoi 76 70 65 74

286 - Stefan Wears-Taylor 74 67 75 70, Kyle McClatchie 72 74 69 71, Heinrich Bruiners 72 69 73 72, Neil Schietekat 72 69 72 73

287 - Marcel Steyn Scholtz 73 74 71 69, Martin Rohwer 74 70 73 70, Daniel Cronje 74 69 73 71, Rourke van der Spuy 72 73 71 71, Jack Hawksby 73 72 71 71

288 - Benjamin Van Wyk 72 70 72 74, Christiaan Burke 72 74 68 74, Keegan Mclachlan 72 69 71 76

289 - Stuart Krog 71 75 73 70, Jordan Duminy 72 75 72 70, Graham van der Merwe 73 67 76 73, Ruan Conradie 73 72 69 75, Carter Rowe 73 72 69 75

290 - Tomas Gana 69 76 74 71, Stals Swart 72 70 75 73, Aaron Simfukwe Jnr 70 71 75 74, CJ du Plessis 76 71 69 74, Stephen Ferreira 73 74 69 74, Altin van der Merwe 76 68 67 79

291 - Keagan Thomas 74 73 72 72

292 - Daniel van Tonder 75 70 71 76

293 - Jake Redman 74 68 77 74, Austin Bautista 72 72 73 76, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 71 72 76, Jason Roets 73 72 71 77

294 - Jordan Burnand 73 74 75 72, Quintin Wilsnach 70 68 79 77

295 - Tristen Strydom 74 73 77 71, Thomas Spreadborough 74 71 75 75

296 - Pierre Viallaneix 71 73 77 75

297 - Paul Boshoff 71 74 78 74

298 - Michael Chuma 76 70 75 77, Danie Van Niekerk 75 68 77 78

299 - Franklin Manchest 69 77 77 76