South African Richard Sterne won the Jo’burg Open on Sunday at the Royal Johannesburg and Kengsington Golf Club after a dramatic three-way sudden death play-off against countryman Garth Mulroy and Swede Magnus Carlsson.
The threesome who were tied at minus-13 — a 72 hole aggregate of 271 — after regulation play could still not be separated after they all birdied the par-five 18th extra hole and had to do it all again.
Earlier, Sterne had a golden opportunity to win on the first play-off hole when he was the only player to find the green for two after a magnificent fairway bunker shot. Mulroy and Carlsson both played commendable third shots to give themselves birdie chances. When Sterne narrowly missed his 15 foot putt for eagle, Mulroy and Carlson did well to sink tricky birdie putts and it was back to the 18th tee.
Sterne’s second tee shot found the fairway whereas both Carlsson and Mulroy found fairway bunkers. Sterne again hit a magnificent second onto the green and with Carlsson just short and Mulroy having to chip out the momentum was again with Sterne.
Carlsson and Mulroy both found the green for their third and when the Swede missed his six foot birdie putt it was up to Mulroy to sink his six-footer after Sterne had putted his third dead. He missed and Sterne became R1,75-million wealthier when he tapped in for four.
”I have not been feeling too well the last few days so it took a lot out of me,” said Sterne. ”It was a tough day and I even surprised myself.”
Asked about the crucial bunker shot in the first play-off where he hit it all of 200 yards to find the green, Sterne said he did not even think of laying up. ”The shot was on and it’s a play-off so you got to do what you got to do,” he said.
”It was an impressive shot even if I say so myself. I knew it was good as soon as I hit it.”
All three were well placed at the start of the fourth round with Sterne (-7) Carlsson (-8) and Mulroy (-8) chasing overnight leader Mark Murless at 11-under. But Murless’ erratic putting let him down and he finished a miserable two over in his final round which included five bogeys and just three birdies.
Irishman Darren Clarke finished in sole fourth position with rookie professional Louis Moolman, Chris Williams and Murless in joint fifth. Moolman’s fellow rookie Tyrone Ferreira finished in a credible eighth position. – Sapa