Oosthuizen goes back-to-back with AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open win

Louis Oosthuizen is a Major champion who has been ranked as high as fourth in the world and has achieved an abundance of accolades in a stellar career.

But this one, a victory in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and with his family there to see him win for the first time in his career and also claim back-to-back title for the first time, is special indeed.

With a birdie on the last hole of a La Réserve Golf Links course that he co-designed with Peter Matkovich for a final round of 69, Oosthuizen claimed his second victory in as many weeks on the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour with a two-shot triumph on Sunday.

"I've never gone back-to-back in my life before so it's a big dream to be able to do that, and then having my family with me for the first time when I've won in my career is very special," said Oosthuizen, who closed out the week on 17 under par to add to his victory last week in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Oosthuizen's victory completes a remarkable run by South African golfers in the four Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournaments to end this year, with Dean Burmester winning both the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open.

England's Laurie Canter finished second on 15 under par following a closing 68, while Sweden's Sebastian Söderberg signed for a 63 to share third place on 14 under par alongside England's Daniel Brown (65) and South Africa's Jacques P de Villiers (71).

Having only arrived in Mauritius in the early hours of last Tuesday morning following the Monday finish of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Oosthuizen had to quickly acclimatise to not only the travel but also a golf course which even though he co-designed he had yet to play himself.

"The golf course was spectacular to play and I think in a year or two, when it has settled and the greens are faster and the rough will have grown a bit, it's going to be really tough. But for the team here to get this ready to be hosting the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open this year was some magic," said Oosthuizen.

The South African didn't have the best start with back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes which opened the door for several others to challenge for the lead.

"I started poorly and didn't hit it great, but then I found some rhythm there on holes six, seven and eight. On the back nine I felt really comfortable and started hitting good shots. And coming down the 18th it's nice to have three putts to win," said Oosthuizen.

And there's every indication that he plans to return next year.

"These two events (the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open) will probably go on my schedule now, and from now on will be a nice way to start my holiday."

Scores:

271 Louis Oosthuizen 68 69 65 69

273 Laurie Canter 66 74 65 68

274 Sebastian Soderberg 69 65 77 63, Daniel Brown 68 68 73 65, Jacques P de Villiers 68 67 68 71

275 Jayden Schaper 65 74 67 69

276 Thomas Aiken 68 75 67 66, Darren Fichardt 66 72 70 68, Lyle Rowe 66 71 70 69

277 John Catlin 69 71 71 66

278 Santiago Tarrio 68 72 72 66, Jeff Winther 69 68 73 68, Kazuki Higa 70 70 70 68, Oliver Farr 69 72 69 68, Dylan Naidoo 68 69 71 70

279 Paul Waring 63 73 72 71, Marcel Siem 69 69 70 71

280 Lars van Meijel 67 71 75 67, Tom Vaillant 71 70 72 67, Andrea Pavan 68 75 70 67, Pedro Figueiredo 68 69 75 68, Soren Broholt Lind 71 69 72 68, Renato Paratore 68 74 70 68, Deon Germishuys 68 74 69 69

281 Kristian Krogh Johannessen 69 70 72 70, Joakim Lagergren 68 70 72 71, Casey Jarvis 67 73 70 71, Jaco Prinsloo 67 72 67 75

282 Alexander Levy 69 73 71 69, Antoine Rozner 62 74 73 73, Marcel Schneider 67 68 73 74, Pieter Moolman 67 71 69 75

283 Angel Ayora 69 71 73 70

284 Bradley Bawden 68 71 77 68, Rupert Kaminski 67 74 75 68, Sam Bairstow 71 71 71 71, Angel Hidalgo 74 69 69 72, Oliver Bekker 71 69 71 73, Louis de Jager 67 72 70 75

285 Garrick Porteous 74 69 72 70, Guido Migliozzi 73 67 74 71, Ryan Van Velzen 68 72 74 71, Brandon Stone 68 70 75 72, Daniel van Tonder 72 69 72 72, Steven Brown 71 70 72 72, Jacques Kruyswijk 72 71 70 72

287 Wilco Nienaber 69 68 77 73, Matthew Southgate 72 69 73 73

288 Alfredo Garcia-Heredia 73 70 74 71, Matthew Baldwin 73 68 75 72, Anthony Michael 69 73 73 73, Dan Erickson 66 73 75 74, Jens Dantorp 71 72 70 75

289 Danie Van Niekerk 71 72 75 71, Jake Redman 68 73 76 72, Peter Karmis 72 71 73 73, Jordan Gumberg 70 73 69 77, Nicolai Von Dellingshausen 68 71 72 78

290 Marc Warren 71 72 74 73, Andrew Martin 70 72 74 74, Chase Hanna 69 72 74 75

291 Haydn Porteous 68 73 76 74

292 Toto Thimba Jnr 72 71 74 75

295 Daan Huizing 70 73 80 72

WD Andrew Johnston 71 71 71 WD