Relying upon the New Pro V1x golf ball, local favorite Darren Fichardt captured the weather-affected Joburg Open to claim his fifth career European Tour title.

The South African carded a birdie on the last hole in his third and final round to post a 4-under-par 68 and finish one shot clear of fellow Titleist golf ball loyalists Stuart Manley (New Pro V1x) and Paul Waring (Pro V1x).

All three players fired three consecutive rounds in the 60’s with Fichardt recording the winning total of 15-under-par 200.

The tournament was reduced to 54 holes after thunder, lightning and subsequent course flooding at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

By finishing in the top three, Fichardt, Manley and Waring all secured spots in the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale as part of the Open Qualifying Series.

The threesome also topped a leaderboard that saw eight Titleist golf ball loyalists among the top 10 finishers.

"Geez man, it's good to win again," Fichardt said after the win. "I think in the past, I've tried to hit the ball harder when I play this tournament. And this time, because I've been hitting the ball so well over the last few months, I was concentrating on my short game and my putting. And it worked out!"

Congratulations, Darren!

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TITLEIST BY THE NUMBERS

Titleist was the overwhelming field favorite in golf balls at the Joburg Open with 156 players trusting a Pro V1 or Pro V1x, nearly five times the nearest competitor with 32.

Fichardt’s win was the seventh by Titleist golf ball loyalists through the first 10 events of the European Tour’s 2016-17 season.

He follows Titleist Brand Ambassador Brett Rumford (Pro V1x), Fabrizio Zanotti (New Pro V1x), Jeung-hun Wang (Pro V1x), Tommy Fleetwood (New Pro V1x), Graeme Storm (New Pro V1x) and Brandon Stone (New Pro V1) into the Titleist winners’ circle on the European Tour.

#TeamTitleist