England’s Joe Sullivan celebrated his 23rd birthday in style by securing his first Betway Big Easy Tour title at Killarney Country Club on Wednesday. Although his birthday was on May 6, Sullivan gifted himself the perfect belated present by clinching the victory in dramatic fashion.
Sullivan, who finished tied at three-under-par with Tristan Leonard in regulation, triumphed in a sudden-death playoff. Leonard teed off first, landing his ball in the middle of the fairway. Sullivan’s shot, however, veered left, putting him in a challenging position with trees and water ahead. But Sullivan responded with an impressive second shot, which skipped across the water guarding the 18th green and settled 75 feet from the flag.
Leonard’s second shot landed on the edge of the green, but he missed his chip-in attempt for birdie. Sullivan stepped up for his birdie putt, read the line carefully, and drained the long putt to win the match.
Reflecting on his victory, Sullivan said, “I stick to my process. It’s important to me and keeps me calm and in the moment. That playoff will definitely be one for the history books. I wasn’t happy with my tee shot, but my second shot, somehow, skipped across the water and onto the green. I couldn’t complain about that; the putter was hot this week.”
Having finished tied for second in the previous event, Sullivan believed his win was just around the corner. “It’s a great moment,” he said. “I’ve been working hard, and it’s nice to finally get it done.”
In his rookie season, Sullivan joins other winners of the season, including Harry Konig, Ulrich Van Den Berg, and Lyle Pedro. This victory is a crucial step in his quest to earn a Sunshine Tour card for next season.
Sullivan praised the Betway Big Easy Tour, calling it a great starting point for a professional career. “The competition is tough, the courses are great, and this is a solid stepping stone,” he said. “This win is important because the more points I earn, the easier it will be to finish in the top 12 and secure my Sunshine Tour card. That’s the goal here, and I’m happy to get the points early in the season.”
With this win, Sullivan has moved to the top of the Order of Merit. The top 12 players at the end of the season will earn their Sunshine Tour playing privileges for the following year. The Betway Big Easy Tour, a vital feeder circuit for the Sunshine Tour, is supported by golf legends like Ernie Els.
