Dean Burmester closed with a bogey-free 62 to claim a five-shot victory at the 2021 Tenerife Open.

The South African entered his final day at Golf Costa Adeje one off the lead but after a five-birdie scoring spree on his first seven, Burmester held the lead, and never looked back, adding four more gains on Nos. 11, 13, 15, and 18 to reach 25 under.

Five shots back was 36- and 54-hole leader Nicolai Von Dellingshausen of Germany, who was in neutral most of the day but closed with an eagle on 18 to post 68 and secure solo second on 20 under.

Poland’s Adrian Meronk (67) and Finland’s Kalle Samooja (69) were Burmester’s primary challengers throughout the day, but both went ice cold down the stretch, allowing the German to leapfrog them for the silver medal with a final-hole eagle.

Meronk and Samooja combined for just one birdie on their final nines. The pair tied for third on 19-under par.

American John Catlin (67) rounded out the top-5 finishers at 18 under par.

The win was Burmester’s second on the European Tour, and first in over four years – his maiden title came at the Tshawane Open in March 2017.

While Burmester’s wait between victories was lengthy, his country is not going long without wins, as South African golfers have claimed four of the last seven European Tour titles, including last week when Garrick Higgo took home his second career Tour trophy at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open.

Higgo, who finished T8 on 16 under, was among a sizeable contingent of countryman waiting for Burmester as he made his way up the 18th, and after his final putt dropped, the 31-year-old was joined on the green by friends and compatriots who celebrated with champagne.

“It’s four years of struggle, hard work,” said an emotional Burmester. “Jason (Reynolds, his caddie) and I have been together two years – he’s never won, it’s his first one and he deserves it, he’s been with me through thick and thin.

“I can go home and see my family. I’m so excited.

“With Covid and everything I didn’t know when I was going to go home possibly so this is super emotional.”

The European Tour will tee it up again here next week for the Canary Islands Championship, the final event on the three-stop Canary Swing.

2021 Tenerife Open

Top-5 Leaders: Final Round
Pos-Player-To Par-(Rd 4)
1. Dean Burmester -25 (-9)
2. Nicolai von Dellingshausen -20 (-3)
3. Adrian Meronk -19 (-4)
3. Kalle Samooja -19 (-2)
5. John Catlin -18 (-4)

Material from the European Tour Media was used to compile this report.