American Veerman wins in Sun City from five behind

American Johannes Veerman has carded a final round 69 to claim the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City after starting the final round five shots back.

Veerman claimed his second title on the European tour with his five-under par total and first in three years since he won the Czech Masters in 2021.

He saved his best for the final round on Sunday, with six birdies and three bogeys in a three-under par effort on a course that was challenging for the players all week.

"I did not have the best of seasons in the last two years, but my team and I have put in countless hours," an emotional Veerman said.

"To start this season with a win is indescribable. I thought I had a chance at the start of the day, but then I thought I might have lost it when I three-putted on 16. Now it doesn't matter! We worked really hard for this."

South African Aldrich Potgieter, 20, started the final round with a three-shot advantage but a double bogey on the par-four third and a triple-bogey on the par-three 13th proved disastrous as he carded a 75 and finished a shot back.

He was tied for second place with England's Matthew Jordan (72) and Frenchman Romain Langasque (71).

Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie finished joint-14th after a final-round 72 left him on level par for the tournament.