Christo Lamprecht’s professional career seemed to finally click into gear on Sunday when he closed the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open with a seven-under-par 65 in the final round to race up the leaderboard into a share of second.

It’s been something of a stop-start opening phase for the former amateur world number one, during which inconsistency has beset him. But for a third-round of two-over-par 74 in the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned event at Mont Choisy Le Golf on the Indian Ocean island, he could have won this – and the five birdies in the closing six holes showed just what a threat he will grow into at this level.

In the end, he will look back on three double-bogeys – one in each of his first three rounds – and three bogeys in a row to close out his third round as points at which his game needs to burnishing, but he will start 2025 well-satisfied with the way things can go in the new year.

He watched as England’s John Parry claimed a fairytale two-stroke victory over him and countryman Dylan Naidoo. Starting the final round five shots off the lead, Parry produced a masterful back nine of four birdies and an eagle over his final seven holes to close with a 64 and win by two strokes on 14-under-par.

Parry’s victory in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour event signals a remarkable comeback for a golfer who won on the Tour in 2010 but then struggled thereafter and considered giving up the game at one point.

“At one stage I was back on the Euro Pro Tour and close to giving up golf after first winning on the DP World Tour when I was 23. It’s been a long battle back, but worth every moment for this win,” said Parry.

The victory caps a remarkable year for Parry. He won three times on the European Challenge Tour this year and also challenged for the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and finished second there the week before his Mauritius triumph.

“It’s unbelievable. At the start of this year I didn’t think this would happen. After last week, my mindset this week was more focused on trying to win and not just hoping you’ll win.”

Naidoo started the round in a share of the lead, and he acquitted himself solidly with a one-under 71. That saw him finish one clear of yet another South African who seems to be moving towards some sort of promise-fulfilment, Jovan Rebula. He rounded off a particularly solid week with a two-under 70 to finish on 11-under on fourth.

In a share of fifth, amongst others, were Richard Sterne, who showed glimpses of all his skills, particularly in his closing eight-under 64, and Christiaan Burke, who is another who seemed to finally feel comfortable in a tournament that is a step up from his comfort zone.