JC Ritchie birdies final hole to successfully defend Cape Town Open title

South African golfer JC Ritchie sank a clutch birdie on the final hole to successfully defend the Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club on Sunday.

Ritchie, who was two shots off the lead heading into the final round, started off strong with two birdies on the front nine.

At the turn, Ritchie scored back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th, but a birdie on the 16th edged him back into contention.

With Germany's Christopher Mivis carding a six-under to sit with a clubhouse lead at 17-under, a playoff was in the cards for the limited spectators gathered at Royal Cape.

However, Ritchie showed real fight as he slotted in a 25-foot birdie on the final hole to clinch a one-shot win and his ninth Sunshine Tour title.

Last year, Ritchie claimed the Cape Town Open title with a playoff victory and this time around, the 27-year-old did not want a repeat.

"It's awesome and special to have it under your belt, to be able to defend titles and to do it multiple times, it's really cool to do that," Ritchie told reporters on Sunday.

"It's just an awesome feeling, especially over the way I felt these last two days, and coming out on top today was everything. I wasn't hitting the ball the best up until Friday.

"But I did not have the energy for a playoff, I don't think I made a long putt all week."

The win sees Ritchie climb fourth on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and second on the Challenge Tour's Road to Mallorca rankings.

"We've got a long nice busy schedule coming up now, there'll be a lot of travelling," said Ritchie.

"I feel like my game is solid, I'm playing really well and my game has been in better places, but there's certain things about my game that are so solid that's helping me to score.

"There's always an improvement for us as