Schwartzel makes it fab four at Alfred Dunhill
JOHANNESBURG: Home favourite Charl Schwartzel protected his overnight lead to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship for the fourth time on Sunday as he finished four strokes clear of Frenchman Gregory Bourdy at the Leopard Creek Country Club.
The former Masters champion shook off a shaky front nine when he made the turn in one over 36 but a closing 34 was enough to see the Johannesburg native clinch a fourth win in the first event of the 2016 Race to Dubai.
He finished the tournament 15-under par and also became the first South African to win an EPGA event four times and the third man from his country, after Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, to win 10 EPGA tournaments.
The 31-year-old was never really in danger after coming into the final 18 holes with a three-shot overnight lead.
“It feels good. The way I’ve played the last few years, I’ve been down in quite a slump, I didn’t really see myself coming out and winning,” said Schwartzel who should now return to the world top 40.
“But we’ve put in so much hard work in the last 18 months and it’s frustrating when weekin, week-out you’re playing and it feels like it’s never going to turn.
“I guess there’s no better fit than for it to turn around here. This place has treated me really well. I got my first win here and now my tenth so I think it’s pretty fitting.” France’s Benjamin Hebert finished in third spot, his best European finish at 10 under par, ahead of compatriot Sebastien Gros who was nine under. Three players finished at eight under -- Challenge Tour graduate Thomas Linard, Matt Ford and Joost Luiten.
Defending champion Branden Grace was a further shot back after seeing his late charge, which began with an eagle on the par four 11th, end as he found the water on the 16th and 18th.
Jaco Van Zyl was also at seven under after firing the round of the day with a 64, alongside Eddie Pepperell who ended his
week with a 68. JONES BATTLES IT OUT TO FULFIL A DREAM
SYDNEY: If recent history is anything to go by, Matt Jones should have major expectations for 2016 after winning the Australian Open at his home course on Sunday.
The US PGA tour regular followed some pretty illustrious footsteps by clinching the Stonehaven Cup with American Jordan Spieth and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy the names immediately above his on the trophy.
Like Jones, the Australian Open was the first win of the year for both Spieth and McIlroy and in their cases, they used their Sydney success as the launch pad for spectacular following seasons, both winning two major championships.
While McIlroy snatched victory from Adam Scott on the final hole in 2013 and Spieth smashed the course record in his final round in 2014, however, Jones’s fourth round twoover-par 73 was a more nervous affair.