Steve Surry hopes Sunshine Tour win can inspire bigger and better things next season

Cumberwell Park player Surry secured a superb four-shot victory at the Vodacoms Origins of Golf Final on the Sunshine Tour – qualifying for three early events on the 2019 European Tour season as a result.

The 36-year-old will compete alongside the continent’s top-tier players at the Mauritius Open in the final week of November before returning to South Africa for the South African Open and the Alfred Dunhill Championships.

And Surry could then fly even further afield as he weighs up the prospect of attempting to win a place on next year’s Asian Tour too.

“It was really nice to get the win and it has opened a couple of other doors,” said Surry.

“It’s got me into a few co-sanctioned events on the European Tour and I can pick and choose a schedule in South Africa.

“It is my biggest win to date because of the opportunities it gives me in the next 18 months – it is massive for me.

“I think I might be able to skip to the final stage of qualifying for the Asian Tour, which makes life a lot easier, if I decide to enter it.”

Surry’s success at Pinnacle Point was built on a blistering start, where three-under scored of 69 in each of the first two rounds saw him open up a four-shot lead.

The Wiltshire player then finished things off with a level-par 72 in the third and final round to seal a comfortable win on six-under, four shots clear of home player Derick Petersen.

“On the third day, I was probably a little bit cagey. I had a four-shot lead, so I was trying not to mess it up but also tried to keep on playing the way I had been. It is a bit hard to find the balance,” said Surry.

“I was pleased to finish it off and I played the last four or five holes nicely. It was good to do it under pressure. Although I won by four, it wasn’t quite as easy as it looked.

“It’s a brilliant result and I would like to thank my sponsors, Cumberwell Park, for their continued support in helping me get here.”