Arjun Atwal's dream run to the finale came to an end as South Africa's Dylan Frittelli beat him with a birdie on the first playoff hole to clinch the Mauritius Open title on Sunday.

 

The 27-year-old South African secured a second European Tour title in his first year on the tour. He was named the tour's best newcomer at the start of the week following a 19th place finish in the 2017 Race to Dubai.

 

 

 

                                       Dylan Fritteli has carved a niche of his own in the Golfing circuit

 

 

He began the new season with victory in Mauritius after India's Atwal, who set the pace for much of the tournament at Heritage Golf Course, agonizingly missed out on an eagle on the last hole in regulation play that would have given him his first European title in nearly a decade.

 

Atwal saw his eagle putt lip out on No. 18, and settled for birdie to set up a playoff. He and Frittelli both finished on 16 under par after 18 holes.

 

 

Frittelli made five birdies and a bogey in his final round 4-under 67. Atwal, who set a course record with an opening-round 62, finished with six birdies but also two bogeys for his 68.

 

 

France's Romain Langasque was alone in third place, two shots behind Frittelli and Atwal after finishing with a 67. Louis de Jager was fourth.

 

 

 

                                 Arjun Atwal's dream run to the finale came to an end on the final day

 

 

Louis Oosthuizen, the highest-ranked player at the tournament, made a charge up the leaderboard on the final day with two eagles and a run of three straight birdies on Nos. 10-12. However, the former Open champion's challenge ended with a triple bogey seven on No. 16 and he finished seventh, five shots behind.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW? 
 

• It was an eventful day for Frittelli when he broke a four-iron on the par-four sixth hole. His club snapped after hitting it against a tree but the South African recovered nicely by chipping in for par from the edge of the green.
• Frittelli made one bogey in the final round. After 72 holes he only made six bogeys against 18 birdies and two eagles in the tournament.
• This was Frittelli’s first victory in a play-off after two losses on the European Tour and one on the Sunshine Tour
• His previous best finish in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was 54th in 2016.
• Frittelli will now head to the Joburg Open next week in hopes of securing back-to-back victories.
• This was Atwal’s best finish since he won the 2014 Dubai Open.
• The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will be Atwal’s final event in the 2017 season. In his next tournament, he will captain Team Asia against Team Europe in the 2018 EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.
• He moved to 23rd place on the Order of Merit and will safely secure a full Asian Tour card for 2018.
• The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open might also be Tabuena’s final event in 2017. He will return to the Philippines to nurse a wrist injury after playing through the pain barrier today.

 

Day 3: Arjun Atwal shares lead with Louis De Jager of South Africa at Mauritius Open

Day 2: Arjun Atwal's continues to weave success, stays in the lead at Mauritius Open

Day 1: India's Arjun Atwal's dazzling 62 puts him atop leaderboard at the Mauritius Open