Briton John Parry said his drive to return to the DP World Tour winner's circle in 2014 was “every moment” after winning the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open with an 8-under 64. It’s all worth it.”
Parry started Sunday's final round five shots off the lead before making an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey to finish at 14 under over South Africa's Dylan Nye Dylan Naidoo and Christo Lamprecht won by two strokes.
Irish player Gary Hurley finally shot a par 72, finishing 1 under par and tied for 42nd.
final ranking
The win capped a stellar 2024 for Parry, who has three wins on the Challenge Tour, but his first at this level since the Vivendi Cup in September 2010 The first trophy is also the second trophy.
It also earned him $200,000 (approximately €191,000) in prize money and participation in some prestigious events later in the DP World Tour season, as he topped the tour's Opening Swing rankings.
The 38-year-old revealed that he was close to giving up golf a few years ago due to struggles with form and results, but now he has a lot to look forward to.
“It's huge,” he said. “I don’t know how long ago – five or six years ago – I was back on the European Professional Tour and when I was 23, I almost gave up golf after winning.
“So it's been a long battle, but every moment of this week has been worth it.”
After three birdies and one bogey on the front side for a 34, Parry's final round exploded on the ninth hole home, when he made an eagle on No. 12 to cut the lead to one. The difference between rods.
He followed that with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 before hitting an eight-footer on No. 16 to give him a commanding lead.
Parry hit a contender for Shot of the Week on the 17th tee, but made amends in the final round before failing to make a 6-foot birdie putt with a nifty little shot. The birdie ended the round, taking a two-stroke lead and giving himself some breathing room at the summit.
With no one in the final group able to catch him, Parry secured a long-awaited DP World Tour victory.
Parry felt his stellar eagle on No. 12 was the turning point on Sunday.
He added: “The whole week was challenging, but chip number 12 really gave me some momentum for the rest of the round. So that was a real pivotal moment.”
“That eagle there gave me a little spark and a couple good opportunities came up. I really didn't miss a shot, so that was really key.”