It came down to Gary Player’s famous ‘Six Inches’ for Tyrone van Aswegen, who claimed his first professional title with a four-stroke victory at the Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour Gauteng.

Back-to-back birdies at the closing holes for a final round seven-under-par 65 saw the Glendower Country Club pro walk off the 18th at Pretoria Country Club and step straight into the winner’s circle.

“I was screaming to myself inside all the way down 17 and 18 to stay calm, stay focused and not get ahead of myself,” said Van Aswegen. “I knew playing 17 that I had a very good chance to win. That’s when it became so important to keep my emotions in check.”

Van Aswegen knows all about the consequences of allowing your nerves to get the better of you.

Two years ago the 26-year old forced a play-off at the Dimension Data Pro-Am, but coming down the 18th a third time around, lost his nerve and drove his tee shot out of bounds, effectively handing the tournament to Alan McLean.

“Like Gary Player says, it’s the six inches between your ears that makes or breaks you coming down the homestretch,” said the former Oklahoma City University National Champion. “I am really proud that I was able to keep a handle on my nerves.”

After three early birdies and two bogeys, Schietekat was still leading at the turn, but failure to convert for further birdies became his undoing.

At the par-3 14th, he missed a 6-footer and a chance to tie Van Aswegen, playing in one group ahead. Yet another short putt went unanswered at the 15th and after a great recovery from the greenside bunker at the par-3 16th, Schietekat messed up another short putt for par.

The gap widened to three when Van Aswegen made birdie number seven at the 17th, while Schietekat failed to convert.

Hoping for a birdie at the par-5 18th to finish sole second, Schietekat’s third shot pitched on the green and rolled off, leaving him a tricky up-and-down for par and a round of 72 that saw him share second with Pretoria’s Darren Fichardt, 68.

Chris Swanepoel holed a tricky putt for birdie at the last for a 69 to finish in fourth on 10-under, one clear of Vaughan Groenewald, who recovered well from a mid-round meltdown to finish with a 73.

“The birdies at 13 and 14 were a nice bonus and gave me a cushion going into the home stretch. I think not playing in the last group was a slight benefit in my favour. I was a little surprised that the three guys playing behind me were not making a move.”

Van Aswegen, who began cashing cheques on the Sunshine Tour in 2004, earned R69 740 for his maiden victory, coming off his 32nd career start.

He also moved from 48th to 30th on the Order of Merit with season earnings of R162 817 and earned a welcome two-year exemption.

“I needed a breakthrough and luckily it was this week,” said Van Aswegen. “Having an exemption out here until 2010 is a huge perk. I am off to the USA at the end of May to join International Athlete Management and prepare for the PGA Tour Qualifying School later this season.

“Obviously everyone’s ultimate goal is to get to the PGA Tour and this is a big step in that direction for me in terms of confidence and self belief. I think my goals will pan out in time.”

Van Aswegen, one of six players who are managed by IAM in the USA, is no stranger to the US. He attended the Oklahoma City University where obtained a Business Science degree in 2004 and was a former time All-American from 2002 to 2004.

“The program that we follow with IAM is geared at preparing us for the PGA Tour though coaching, psychology, management, etc. They take care of our accommodation, sponsorship, schedules and so on and we get to work hard on our fitness and ultimately, on our games.”

Chris Swanepoel and Albert Kruger will travel with Van Aswegen when they joined Jake Roos, Charl Coetzee and Matthew Kent at the IAM stable at the end of May.