By Michael Vlismas.
Caption: Austin Bautista (Photo by Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour).
ESWATINI – Australia’s Austin Bautista captured his second Sunshine Tour title by winning the FNB Eswatini Challenge at the Ezulweni Golf & Country Club by two strokes on Saturday.
Bautista closed with a 67 to win on 17 under par, with the South African duo of Herman Loubser (67) and Dylan Mostert (67) and Frenchman Benjamin Kedochim (71) sharing second place on 15 under par.
“I am absolutely stoked to have won this golf tournament,” an elated Bautista said after lifting the trophy.
The Australian started Saturday’s final round two shots off the lead and opened with a bogey on the first hole. But a run of six birdies over the next 11 holes gave him a lead which he managed to hold despite making two bogeys over the closing holes.
“I said going into the week that this golf course suits me really well – little fades off the tee, hitting wedges close and making putts, it suits me perfectly. I am really happy to have won and am looking forward to coming back next year,” Bautista said.
Bheki Bhembe received the Sunshine Tour Caddie Medallion as the winning caddie.
With his second Sunshine Tour title now secured, Bautista moved from fifth on The Courier Guy Order of Merit into the second place, behind this season’s current leader Sameul Simpson.
Bautista won his first title on the Sunshine Tour at last year’s Sunbet Challenge presented by the Wild Coast Sun and has impressed ever since. The Australian’s first title was followed by six top-10 finishes, with three of them being second places, the most recent at the FBC Zim Open.
Bautista now prepares to defend a title in next week’s Sunbet Challenge hosted by the Wild Coast Sun.