TREE RETAINS SOUTH AFRICAN GAUTENG OPEN TITLE

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF


Toby Tree experienced a touch of déjà vu over the weekend when he won the Gauteng North Open Championship in South Africa for the second successive year.
A closing round of 71 for a total of 281, seven under par, saw the England international secure a one stroke winning margin over the fast-finishing Zander Lombard and two more South Africans.
The 19 year old from Worthing found himself four shots off the lead after an opening level-par 72 but he followed up with 67 for 139 and a share of the lead.
A third round 71 for 210 left Tree four behind going into the final round, the lead being taken over by Haydn Porteous with a superb 66.
However, while Porteous fell back with 76 on the final day, Tree responded with another 71 to secure a narrow victory, one clear of Lombard with 67, Porteous and Jason Smith, also with 71.
Leading final scores: 281 T Tree (Eng) 72 67 71 71; 282 Z Lombard (South Africa) 71 75 69 67, H Porteous (South Africa) 70 70 66 76, J Smith (South Africa) 69 70 72 71; 283 T Strydom (South Africa) 69 71 71 72

Lynne Fraser
England Golf
Marketing and PR Manager
Email: pr@englandgolf.org