Steyn City Championship: Shaun Norris produces late burst to score dramatic win in Johannesburg
- Dave Tindall
- 20 March 2022
The local man fought back from a poor start to see off fellow South African Dean Burmester and claim a first DP World Tour title.
Shaun Norris made three birdies in his final five holes to come from behind and claim victory in the inaugural Steyn City Championship in Johannesburg.
The South African's final-round 2-under-par 70 gave him a 72-hole tally of 25-under 63, three clear of compatriot Dean Burmester.
But that doesn't tell half the story.
Norris started the closing lap with a convincing four-shot lead after rounds of 64-62-67 at The Club course at Steyn City but saw that advantage eaten up on the front nine.
The 39-year-old dropped shots at 2 and 4 to fall back to 21-under and Burmester seized the moment with a birdie-eagle burst at 6 and 7 to jump into a one-shot lead.
Shaun Norris wins on home soil 🏆#SteynCityChampionship pic.twitter.com/dQOPpSu2NE
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 20, 2022
Burmester went two clear with another gain at 10 before the two traded birdies at 11.
Norris moved back into a tie for the lead thanks to birdies at 14 and 16 before the par-4 17th hole decided the destiny of the championship.
A Norris birdie against a Burmester double bogey produced a three-shot swing and the former closed out victory with a par at the last.
It gave Norris a 10th worldwide win but a first success on the DP World Tour.
Another South African, Oliver Bekker, finished tied third with German Matti Schmid, the pair three behind Burmester and six adrift of Norris.
It was a further stroke back to South Africa's Jame Hart Du Preez, Denmark's JB Hansen and Finland's Tapio Pulkkanen.
Norris was joined by his family on the final green and struggled to hide his emotions.
"I don't think words can describe how I feel right now," he said.
"It's been a tough journey and having my brother on the bag, my wife here, my little girl - splendid, I can't explain.
"It's absolutely beautiful doing this in front of my home crowd and in front of my family."
