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Jovan Rebula: Image Credit - Sunshine Tour Images

SOUTH African professional, Jovan Rebula produced a solid performance to secure a top 10 finish at the Hainan Open held at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club in Donghai Bay, Sanya, Hainan Island, China.

Rebula finished tied for eighth place on 12-under-par 276, just five strokes behind the winner, Renato Paratore, who claimed the championship via a play-off against Maximilian Steinlechner after both finished tied on 17-under-par 271.

He was one of the three South Africans to make the cut alongside Wilco Nienaber and JC Ritchie. However, Ritchie withdrew going into the third round and did not complete the championship. Rebula opened the tournament with a near-flawless four-under-par 68 where he dropped just a single shot. He made five birdies, including consecutive ones on the 17th and 18th holes, and just one bogey. He followed it up with a one-over-par 73 in the second round, shooting one birdie and two bogeys. On moving day, Rebula signed for a six-under-par 66, shooting six birdies, one eagle and two bogeys. He started the round with an eagle on the par-five second hole, followed by a bogey on the third hole and three consecutive birdies on number five, six and seven. He dropped a shot on the 11th but picked up more birdies on number 12, 13 and 17. Just like the third round, Rebula made an eagle on the second hole in the final round on Sunday. He went on to pick up two birdies on the fourth and seventh before dropping shots on the eighth and ninth holes. At the back nine, he picked up back to back birdies on the 12th and 13th followed by a bogey on the 15th, closing with a three-under-par 69. Nienaber finished tied for position 31 on seven-under-par having played three rounds with scores of 67, 73 and 72. Ritchie withdrew with two round scores of 69 and 71.

For his eighth place finish, Rebula amassed 62.15 Road to Mallorca points, moving two places up to position 19 on the standings.