OOSTY WINS SOUTH AFRICAN
PGA TITLE AT JO'BURG
South African Louis Oosthuizen claimed his second victory in four tournaments when he won the Telkom PGA championship at Country Club Johannesburg’s Woodmead Course today.
Oosthuizen, pictured right, birdied the last for a 65 and a total of 22-under-par 266, giving him a one-stroke victory in the final tournament of the Sunshine Tour’s 2006-07 season.
The win was his second this summer after his triumph in the Dimension-Data Pro-Am, and came a week after he lost a play-off for the Vodacom Championship.
Richard Sterne finished second on 267 with a 71, while Charl Schwartzel shared third place with Marc Cayeux on 268.
“I didn’t think I had a chance at the start of the day, being six shots behind,” Oosthuizen said. “But after a good front nine I saw myself up there. The win in the Dimension Data Pro-Am certainly gave me the confidence to know I can do it. It’s changed the way I think on the golf course now.”
Schwartzel’s finish was good enough to see him win the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit a third successive time, becoming the first South African to achieve this, making his sacrifice of a place in the Accenture world match-play championship to play in this event well worthwhile.
The final round began with Andrew McLardy one clear of Sterne. McLardy, the one man who could still pip Schwartzel to the Order of Merit title if he won this event, saw his challenge falter with successive double bogeys at the seventh and eighth holes on his way to a finish of tied 11th.
Sterne took the lead but was soon caught by the charging Oosthuizen, who tied him at 20 under with five birdies on the front nine.
Sterne moved two clear early on the back nine, and Oosthuizen hit back with successive birdies at 12 and 13. Oosthuizen then took the lead when Sterne dropped at the short 15th.A birdie at the last gave Oosthuizen a two-shot cushion, allowing Sterne the birdie at 18.
Schwartzel birdied two of his final three holes to threaten Ooosthuizen’s lead and complete his Order of Merit triumph.
Glasgow-born Alan McLean tied for 22nd place on 278 with a closing 71.
LEADING TOTALS
288 (4 x 72)
Players from South Africa unless stated.
266 Louis Oosthuizen 676 65 69 65.
267 Richard Sterne 66 68 62 71.
268 Charl Schwartzel 69 64 70 65, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 66 67 65 70.
Other totals:
273 Andrew McLardy 65 66 64 78 (jt 11th).
278 Alan McLean (Sco) 72 66 69 71(jt 22nd).