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Kian Rose with the BETWAY Big Easy Blu Label Unlimited Invitational 4 winners' trophy: Image Credit - BETWAY Big Easy Tour

A FLAWLESS closing round eight-under-par 63 saw Kian Rose secure a commanding five-shot victory over Dillon Germshuys at the BETWAY Big Easy Blu Label Unlimited Invitational 4 held at Reading Country Club in South Africa.

It was the 23 year old Rose’s maiden professional win, coming in a tournament that was reduced from 54 holes to 36 due to adverse weather conditions.

Rose finished the tournament on 13-under-par 129 while second placed Germshuys carded eight-under-par 134. Just a month ago, Rose narrowly missed out on victory on his Betway Big Easy Tour debut at the same venue, and speaking after his triumph, he reflected on how that disappointment motivated him. “That first event here was bittersweet. I was in the last group and I had a putt on the last hole to push it into a playoff, and I left it in the mouth. That one tasted a little bitter, but it also forced me to push myself a little more. So, coming out here again this week, it was a bit of a redemption story for me to regather myself, and I ended up getting it done. “After the round, I got asked how I feel about it,” Rose said of his scintillating final round. “I didn’t have an answer because it was sort of like a blackout. But after the round, I gathered my thoughts and looked back at the round and the stats, and I realised I had 21 putts for the round. The flat stick got hot. The two holes that I got out of position off the tee, I ended up birdieing and eagling, so everything sort of aligned to what I wanted, and I played just about as good as I could have,” said Rose. Rose added that he is thrilled to properly kick start his professional journey, which is only a couple of months old, describing the win as a dream come true. Rose opened the tournament with a five-under-par 66 which saw him tie for second place, two shots behind overnight leader Matt Millar who carded a 64. In the first round, Rose dropped just a single shot and in the second and final round, he went bogey free. He shot six birdies and an eagle in the second round. He shot a birdie on the first hole and picked up another one on the fourth hole before going on to shoot an eagle on the par-five eighth hole. On the back nine, he birdied number 12, 14, 16 and 18 to win the championship.

The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons. The Betway Big Easy Blue Label Invitational is a series which the Big Easy co-hosts with the Bushveld Tour to provide more playing opportunities to members of both tours.