South African Tim Clark took the lead at the third hole during the final round of the South African Airways Open golf tournament played the Durban Country Club on Sunday and never looked back.
When the 29-year-old from Umkomaas potted the final putt of the tournament, he had completed the tournament in a 15-under-par 273.
That gave him a six-shot edge over compatriot Charl Schwartzel and Frenchman Gregory Havret, both of whom finished the tournament with nine-under 279s.
Finishing on eight-under 280 were South African James Kingston, Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke and Englishmen Graeme Storm and Nick Dougherty.
The victory catapults Clark back into the world’s top 50 ranked players, something he hopes will help him get into some of the majors — he has already qualified for the US Open — and a number of other big events.
”We also have the President’s Cup this year and I know I will have to continue playing well to be considered for that,” said a delighted Clark afterwards.
Clark began the day at nine-under together with compatriots Tjaart van der Walt, Titch Moore and Hendrik Buhrmann, but the wheels came off the co-leaders with Van der Walt and Moore both ending seven-under and Buhrmann a further shot behind at six under.
Clark played immaculate golf in the last two rounds, which produced 10 birdies and no bogeys. In fact Clark just dropped three shots the entire tournament.
He admitted on Saturday evening that having been in this situation before in 2002 and then going on to win the title will give him confidence for Sunday’s final round.
Once he dropped his first birdie putt at the par-five third, Clark never looked back. He picked up his second shot at the par-four fifth when he hit a nine-iron to 20 feet and sank quite a difficult putt.
”I had a good back nine — two birdies and two good saves from the sand — but I still felt I needed to shoot a few more under. At no stage did I want to let up and make any mistakes,” he said.
Clark turned two under for the round but extended that at the par-five 10th when he hit a sand wedge to 20 feet and put away the putt. At the par-five 14th, Clark reached the green in two, two-putted to pick up another shot and then added the finishing touches to a pristine round with birdies at 17 and 18.
”This is one game where you can never be sure and only once I hit my second shot to the 17th green did I actually feel I had it won,” said Clark. ”I stuck to my game plan throughout the round. The only time I changed was at the 18th when I hit a three-iron off the tee.”
Schwartzel certainly kept up the form that saw him win the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek last month. His second place this week has ensured him victory in the order of merit, no matter who wins the rest of the tournaments on the Sunshine Tour.
He is also leading the European Tour order of merit, which is his next goal.
”I’m playing so well right now, so we’ll see where it takes me,” said Schwartzel.
He had six birdies on the day but then dropped at 12 and 16.
”I’d have liked to have been a couple of shots closer going into the last round but I thought if I could get to 11-under I would have a big chance.
”I went to nine-under with two bogeys, so I’m happy with my effort.”
Clark’s next goal is to win a tournament on the US PGA Tour and his first attempt will come next week in Palm Springs, California.
”I only arrive there on Tuesday evening and I have never seen the course before, so it’s going to be very interesting,” smiled Clark.
The Sunshine Tour moves on to Sun City next week for the Dimension Data Pro-Am. — Sapa