There is nothing better in golf than to win your country's national championship. Here are the last 10 South African men to win the Investec SA Open

Burmester won by three strokes at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate. He posted a final round 68 and added his name to the greats of South African golf with a total of 11 under par. 'Back-to-back – I've never done that before,' said Burmester, who had captured the Joburg Open a week earlier. Burmester, who was close to withdrawing with a stomach bug on the Friday, set the stage for his victory with a seven-under 65 in the third round. 'On the first tee on Saturday I said to my caddie we're either shooting 65 or 85 today, but we're going for it.'

With a one-stroke victory on 16 under par at Blair Atholl Golf and Country Estate, Lawrence turned his boyhood dreams into reality. 'Unbelievable. It's a dream come true for me. This is the one you want to win – your national Open. It was so special to have Gary Player watching. This means everything to me. This is by far my best victory ever.' He started the final round with a two-stroke lead and at one point was as much as five shots ahead. But then came a stretch of five dropped shots in five holes on a back nine of 41, but held on by one shot.

With his one-stroke victory at the Gary Player Country Club, Van Tonder joined the greats of South African golf by adding his name to this prestigious trophy. 'This is a special win. This is the third oldest Open in golf, and winning it is big. Watching people win it has always looked so good. And now I can say I'm the SA Open champion.' On an overcast and at times wet Sunday at Sun City, Van Tonder produced a final round of 65 and birdied the final hole to win on 16 under par. Oliver Bekker took second place on 15 under.

Bezuidenhout signed for a final round of 69 to win on 18 under par at the Gary Player Country Club, five strokes ahead of Jamie Donaldson. The win earned Bezuidenhout back-to-back victories following his triumph in the previous week's Alfred Dunhill Championship. Bezuidenhout took a five-stroke lead into the final round, and even when Donaldson made a charge to cut the lead to three, Bezuidenhout's composure never wavered. 'When you go into the final round with a five-shot lead you are expecting to win it, and my caddie just kept me calm.'

Grace carded a final round nine-under 62 to win at Randpark Golf Club. It was the lowest-ever closing round to win an SA Open. Grace's 21-under total was three better than tournament host and defending champion Louis Oosthuizen, who finished second on 18-under with a three-under 68 that featured a hole-in-one at the par three 8th. 'It took me long enough to get my hands on this trophy,' said the 31-year-old Grace. 'This is the one I wanted. I've won the Dunhill, the Nedbank, the Joburg Open and Dimension Data, but this is the one I really wanted to get my hands on.'

'This is the one I really wanted to get my hands on'

Oosthuizen became only the fourth South African to win both The Open and SA Open. With his six-stroke victory at Randpark Golf Club, on 18 under par after a closing 67, Oosthuizen joined Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els in one of the most elite clubs in professional golf. 'To be the fourth South African to win both – that feels really special,' said an emotional Oosthuizen. 'It's always tough when you've been through some stuff and the people who have been behind you are not here to celebrate with you. My wife and kids have been phenomenal. It would've been great to have them here.'

Stone fought back in the final round to win his first DP World Tour title at the SA Open at Glendower Golf Club. Stone went from five shots ahead to two behind after six bogeys in seven holes but recovered with four birdies to post a 71 to win on 14 under. The 22-year-old became the youngest winner of the event since 1997. Stone won by two shots from Christiaan Bezuidenhout. 'I don't have the vocab to describe how I feel right now,' he said. 'Walking up to the 18th made me think about how the last few years have been up and down and up and down and just to pull it through at the end there, I can't describe it.'

Otto survived a nerve-wracking final few holes to win at Serengeti Golf Club. He shot 72 to end on 14 under, one clear of Austrian Bernd Wiesberger. Otto, who led by three strokes overnight, was still three clear with six holes to play, but fell back into a tie with bogeys at the 13th, 15th and long 16th. But he chipped to six feet and birdied the 375-yard 17th, and then parred the last. 'There are some great names on the trophy and I said it would be great if I could add mine. Today's the day,' said Otto.

Els held off Retief Goosen to capture the SA Open for the fifth time, at Durban Country Club. In the 100th staging of the event, Els, who shot a final round 66, edged out Goosen by a shot. After rain delays, two rounds were played on the Sunday and instead of 36 holes, only 34 were played because of unplayable greens, with all players given a par. Els described playing two rounds in a day during such a big competition as an 'incredible feeling'. He added: 'I've been playing the game for quite some time, 20 years now as a professional and I've never had a day like that.'

LUKE WALKER | PETRI OESCHGER | SHAUN ROY | CARL FOURIE | SUNSHINE TOUR | THE STATE LIBRARY OF NSW