Dean Burmester has made it back-to-back wins on the DP World Tour, but Sunday the 34-year-old earned the biggest win of his career.

The Bloemfonteiner fired a final round of four-under-par 68 at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate to win the South African Open by three-strokes.

Ryan van Velzen of South Africa, Jesper Svensson of Sweden and Renato Paratore of Italy finished a further stroke back for a share of second.

Burmester, who finished with a tournament tally of 11-under-par, said as South Africa the goal is always to win the world’s second oldest open.

“Back-to-back, I've never done that before so that was special,” said Burmester, who has also previously won the SA PGA Championship for a prestigious domestic double.

“It's obviously one as a South African that I've always wanted to win.

“To be involved in this tournament and to win it, with a bank that used to sponsor me and got me off the ground when I was just a kid, is super special.

“So to be the SA Open champion is something I'll never forget - it's a tournament I watched growing up and I watched a lot of legends.”

Burmester conceded that he came close to withdrawing from the iconic tournament on Friday after suffering from a 24 hour stomach bug. He said that his goal was just to get through the second round and take it from there.

“I woke on Friday with some other 24 hour tummy bug or virus, and I was throwing up all over the course,” Burmester added.

“Jason, my caddy looked at me and said I've got to watch my health because we still have to play next week, and asked what I want to do.

“I said that I've just got to get through today. I couldn't look down to hit a putt because I was so dizzy, but managed to get a two-over-par with 36 putts.

“I came out on Saturday firing and played an unbelievable round of golf, and then still felt great today, so very grateful.”

This week the players head to Leopard Creek on the banks of the Crocodile River of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport