Immelman clinches South African Open
Trevor Immelman retained his South African Airways Open title with a three-shot triumph at the Erinvale Golf Club in Cape Town on Sunday.
Immelman, who has made it his goal to peak on Sundays this year and raise his world ranking significantly, carded a 67 on the final day as his competitors faded in the afternoon wind.
Dane Anders Hansen, the overnight leader, dropped away badly with a double bogey seven on the 16th and triple bogey seven on the 17th, to finish in a share of ninth place.
Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth and England’s Steve Webster shared second on nine under after rounds of 68 and 71 respectively.
The other man to share the lead going into the final day, South African Craig Lile, failed to make a charge and looked set to share second only to crash to a quadruple bogey eight on the treacherous 17th.
Immelman bogeyed the second but then rattled off four birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 33.
As the wind started blowing competitors off course, the defending champion added another three birdies on the back nine and could afford the luxury of three-putting the last for a closing bogey.
