DP World Tour
Brandon Moyo
AN EAGLE on the final hole was enough to see South African professional Michael Hollick secure a one-shot victory over compatriot Hennie Du Plessis at the BMW International Open, held at Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich, Germany.
Reflecting on his win, Hollick, in his rookie season on the DP World Tour, said: “I was actually calm the whole day, stuck to the same stuff I’ve done the whole week. You start making birdies and it’s easy to start thinking too far ahead, and I kind of brought myself back. “I just said, ‘if I have a chance to win the tournament on the back nine, that’s what I want’ and funnily enough yesterday when I went to bed, I thought if I have the chance to make eagle at the last to win it, that would be something. “It’s amazing, honestly. I’ve just given myself and my family such a good opportunity, so really looking forward to it.” The 39-year-old added that there was a time when he had ventured into coaching. “Four years ago, I put the clubs in the cupboard and started coaching, did a full year of coaching full-time and played ten events on the Sunshine Tour, played quite well but didn’t get into any of the big events. “Then started 2024 by winning the Zimbabwe Open and started finding my feet again and won another two tournaments, and then started the season nicely here. The first year is tough, it’s all the unknown, you’re playing your heart out to keep your card and give yourself a chance next year, but here we are,” he said. Hollick opened the tournament with a near-flawless six-under-par 66, dropping just one shot while picking up five birdies and an eagle. He followed that up with a 68 before carding a 69 on moving day. He then signed for a closing five-under-par 67. On the front nine, Hollick bogeyed the second hole before reeling off three consecutive birdies at the sixth, seventh and eighth, followed by another bogey at the ninth to make the turn in 35. After the turn, Hollick added two more birdies at the 11th and 13th, dropped a shot at the 16th before recovering with a birdie at the 17th and an eagle at the 18th to seal the victory.
Runner-up Du Plessis finished on 17-under-par 271 after rounds of 64, 69, 72 and 66.