Pedro claims playoff win for maiden Big Easy title

Khathu’s Lyle Pedro became the third member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class to win a professional title this year following his playoff win over Daniel Cronje in the first Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational at Ruimsig Country Club on Wednesday.

Dylan Naidoo paved the way with an historical victory in the Investec South African Open Championship at Durban Country Club in March. Then, it was Slender Sithebe, who won the Vusi Ngubeni Tournament at Soweto Country Club just last month. And now, Pedro has added his name to this list.

Co-hosted with the Blue Label Bushveld Tour, the Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational that was played at Ruimsig was the first of five events to be co-hosted by the two Tours.

At seven-under par after 36 holes, Pedro brought a one-stroke lead into the final round and didn’t waste too much time before getting down to business. He was five shots clear after 15 holes while Cronje was also making strides of his own. Pedro’s four birdies in the final round were accompanied by two dropped shots, which saw the Sishen Golf Club member finish his round two-under and nine-under for the week in what looked like a clear in in regulation.

But Cronje had other ideas. Thanks to a superb run of five birdies back-to-back on the homeward stretch, Cronje finished tied with Pedro at nine-under and thereby necessitating a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner.

A trip back up the par-five 18^th hole saw Cronje push his driver to the rough on right side of the adjacent 13^th fairway, making his second shot difficult. All the while, Pedro had found the fairway on 18 but his second shot right of the green, demanding a spectacular up-and-down for birdie. He missed that and made par, but with Cronje destined to make a bogey there, the tie was decided and Pedro was the vioctor.

“After Dylan won the SA Open, it just proved to us all that players of colour can win on any Tour,” said Pedro after his win. “I’m just very happy that I am among the winners.”

Pedro noted that despite his composed posture all round long on Wednesday, he almost lost it when after dropping a shot on 16 and 17.

“It was definitely tough out there,” he said. “Especially on hole 17 when I saw that Daniel was eight-under. But I knew I had to keep calm and just try to a birdie but unfortunately, I missed the putt there and I missed the birdie-putt on the last. But, I’m very happy for the victory.

Pedro, a South African Golf Development Board graduate, is in his third season as a professional and while he hadn’t won on Tour before, he had had some opportunities to challenge but was never successful. He was not going to be denied this time.

The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els among other patrons.