Breen rejoices in ‘surprise’ Big Easy win at Randpark

Adam Breen carded an even-par final round of the Altron Big Easy Tour to claim a come-from-behind one-shot victory on one-over-par in testing conditions at Randpark Golf Club on Thursday.

“I’m very relieved and excited and surprised,” said an elated Breen. “I was three back today and I didn’t really think that level-par would give me a chance and when I got to the 18^th box I heard I was tied for the lead, I was surprised. Just very relieved and quite surprised.

“I haven’t won much in my career. The last proper win I had was probably when I was a junior. This is definitely number one. I’ve won a bunch of club championships but this is next level.”

Breen was three shots off the pace set by Ricky Hendler and Nicholaus Frade when the final round got underway in wet and windy Firethorn layout at Randpark and had it all to do in order to make the climb up the leaderboard.

With Hendler and Frade struggling like everyone else in the field, Breen knew he had an opportunity to work his way up the leaderboard and he grabbed it with both hands; making crucial par-saves while giving little away. He made three bogeys on the front nine (on one, three and seven) which were accompanied by birdies on the fifth and eighth holes.

Coming home, the 24-year-old Breen was as clinical as can be; making eight pars and a single birdie there to seal a round of 71. The Country Club Johannesburg player credited his putting for his resolute performance on Thursday, saying even he was surprised at some of the putts he made.

“I made a six-footer for par on 10,” Breen recalled, “and I made a 10-footer for par on 15 and 10-footer for par on 16. I never really make those putts, especially under so much pressure. I know I haven’t this season. So, the putter was key for me; making a lot of those eight to 10-footers and especially for par. I know you’re going to hit so many bad shots the way the wind is, and chipping it close to the hole is difficult. So, those 10-footers were crucial today.

“The wind was absolutely howling this week and as cliché as it sounds but being patient was key out there, and knowing that you’re going to make mistakes. I was grinding because the golf course is such a demanding test, especially in these conditions. So, I really can’t believe that I’ve done it because I thought that the winning score would be around two under today. I thought 68 is the number that I needed so I’m stoked to get it done.”

Breen, who secured his Sunshine Tour playing privileges earlier this year at Qualifying School, said his win at Randpark is just a validation of the work he and his team have been putting in behind the scenes and that it boosts his confidence to want to compete even more.

Breen joins amateur Christiaan Maas, DK Kim and Gregory McKay on the list of winners on the Altron Big Easy Tour this season. The Big Easy Tour was founded in 2011 with support from Ernie Els and counts current international star Christiaan Bezuidenhout among its former Order of Merit winners.