ERNIE ELS WINS SOUTH AFRICAN
OPEN BY THREE STROKES
Ernie Els is back on the winner's rostrum. After 12 months without a victory, the South African came charging through over the final round to win the South African Airways Open for a fourth time at Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth today.
Starting the last round, three shots behind compatriot and leader Trevor Immelman, Ernie shot a 65 to surge past him and post a 24-under-par tournament record-winning total of 263. It was Els' 62nd tournament win as a professional and the fourth time he has captured the South African Open.
The previous tournament low of 263 was set by Tony Johnstone in 1993 - when Els, just starting out on his pro career, was second.
Immelman, who had lowered the course record to 63 in the third round, could do no bretter than a 71 at the last time of asking to finish second on 266.
Sweden's Patrik Sjoland, the earlier leader in the tournament and holder of the course record at 64 for 24 hours, finished on on 267. He finished with a 67.
Scott Drummond had a nightmare last round of 85 for 295.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
(Players from South Africa unless stated):
264 Ernie Els 67 66 66 65.
267 Trevor Immelman 67 66 63 71.
268 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 68 64 69 67.
272 Darren Fichardt 72 67 65 68.
273 Louis Oosthuizen 71 65 70 67, Retief Goosen 69 66 68 70, Andrew Raitt (Eng) 67 68 68 70.
274 Gary Lockerbie (Eng) 72 66 70 65, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68 68 68 70.
275 Robert Rock (Eng) 70 68 69 68, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71 68 68 68, Lee James (Eng) 71 69 67 68, Charl Schwartzel 71 69 65 70.
276 Jaco van Zyl 71 65 72 68.
277 Ross Fisher (Eng) 70 69 66 70.
278 Richard Finch (Eng) 71 71 70 66, Justin Walters (Eng) 73 67 61 67, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 68 73 68, Lee Slattery (Eng) 71 70 69 68, Bradford Vaughn 70 68 71 69, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 75 65 69 69, Richard Sterne 73 69 66 70, James Kamte 69 68 69 72.
279 Sam Walker (Eng) 72 69 72 66, Benn Barham 71 71 68 69, Alan McLean (Sco) 69 68 71 71
280 Nic Henning 71 68 70 71, Keith Horne 73 68 68 71, Carl Suneson (Spa) 67 76 65 72, Edward Rush 70 67 70 73.
Other scores:
281 James Heath (Eng) 70 70 74 67.
282 Warren Bennett (Eng) 73 69 68 72, Oliver Fisher (Eng) 77 67 65 73.
284 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 74 69 71 70, Sam Little (Eng) 72 70 70 72.
287 Garry Houston (Wal) 71 72 76 68.
289 Tony Johnstone (Zim) 72 72 74 71.
295 Scott Drummond 72 67 70 85
OPEN BY THREE STROKES
Ernie Els is back on the winner's rostrum. After 12 months without a victory, the South African came charging through over the final round to win the South African Airways Open for a fourth time at Humewood Golf Club, Port Elizabeth today.
Starting the last round, three shots behind compatriot and leader Trevor Immelman, Ernie shot a 65 to surge past him and post a 24-under-par tournament record-winning total of 263. It was Els' 62nd tournament win as a professional and the fourth time he has captured the South African Open.
The previous tournament low of 263 was set by Tony Johnstone in 1993 - when Els, just starting out on his pro career, was second.
Immelman, who had lowered the course record to 63 in the third round, could do no bretter than a 71 at the last time of asking to finish second on 266.
Sweden's Patrik Sjoland, the earlier leader in the tournament and holder of the course record at 64 for 24 hours, finished on on 267. He finished with a 67.
Scott Drummond had a nightmare last round of 85 for 295.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
(Players from South Africa unless stated):
264 Ernie Els 67 66 66 65.
267 Trevor Immelman 67 66 63 71.
268 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 68 64 69 67.
272 Darren Fichardt 72 67 65 68.
273 Louis Oosthuizen 71 65 70 67, Retief Goosen 69 66 68 70, Andrew Raitt (Eng) 67 68 68 70.
274 Gary Lockerbie (Eng) 72 66 70 65, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68 68 68 70.
275 Robert Rock (Eng) 70 68 69 68, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 71 68 68 68, Lee James (Eng) 71 69 67 68, Charl Schwartzel 71 69 65 70.
276 Jaco van Zyl 71 65 72 68.
277 Ross Fisher (Eng) 70 69 66 70.
278 Richard Finch (Eng) 71 71 70 66, Justin Walters (Eng) 73 67 61 67, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 69 68 73 68, Lee Slattery (Eng) 71 70 69 68, Bradford Vaughn 70 68 71 69, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 75 65 69 69, Richard Sterne 73 69 66 70, James Kamte 69 68 69 72.
279 Sam Walker (Eng) 72 69 72 66, Benn Barham 71 71 68 69, Alan McLean (Sco) 69 68 71 71
280 Nic Henning 71 68 70 71, Keith Horne 73 68 68 71, Carl Suneson (Spa) 67 76 65 72, Edward Rush 70 67 70 73.
Other scores:
281 James Heath (Eng) 70 70 74 67.
282 Warren Bennett (Eng) 73 69 68 72, Oliver Fisher (Eng) 77 67 65 73.
284 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 74 69 71 70, Sam Little (Eng) 72 70 70 72.
287 Garry Houston (Wal) 71 72 76 68.
289 Tony Johnstone (Zim) 72 72 74 71.
295 Scott Drummond 72 67 70 85
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, December 17, 2006
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