Grace wins in Tianjin
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2012, Monday
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SOUTH African Branden Grace lifted the China Open yesterday with a closing 3-under-par 69 and became only the second European Tour player to win three titles in the season after coming through the qualifying school.
The 23-year-old finished 21-under to win the US$3 million event co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour in Tianjin by three shots from defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.
"I thought my first win was around the corner (this season). To have three before May is literally unbelievable, but I've been playing well so I've been feeling like I can win and I've been giving myself opportunities," he said.
Grace not only matched the three titles Johan Edfors of Sweden won in 2006 after coming through qualifying school but also became only the third South African - after Ernie Els and Retief Goosen - to win three times in a season.
Only two players - Spain's Seve Ballesteros (1977) and Briton Sandy Lyle (1979) - have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age.
Grace carded four birdies against a solitary bogey in his final round and maintained at least a two-shot cushion over Colsaerts who also returned a 69.
"I stayed really calm today. I kept hitting the ball well. I missed a couple of shots the first couple of holes but regrouped well and made the birdies where it counts on the par 5s, and just stayed with it from there," Grace said.
Richard Finch finished one shot behind after a final-round 66, while fellow Briton Ian Poulter finished 10-under after an identical card.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood overcame fatigue to win his first title of the year and 38th career victory with a successful title defense at the Indonesian Masters yesterday.
The world No. 3 completed a marathon of 32 holes as he returned yesterday morning to finish the third round before closing with a final-round 2-over 74 for a winning total of 16-under 272 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
The Englishman defeated former Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who returned with a 67, by two shots while India's rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur finished third.
Westwood, who finished tied third at the Masters two weeks ago, held a dominant eight-shot lead going into the final round but tiredness began to kick in on his homeward nine as he shot one birdie and three bogeys.
The 23-year-old finished 21-under to win the US$3 million event co-sanctioned by the OneAsia Tour in Tianjin by three shots from defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.
"I thought my first win was around the corner (this season). To have three before May is literally unbelievable, but I've been playing well so I've been feeling like I can win and I've been giving myself opportunities," he said.
Grace not only matched the three titles Johan Edfors of Sweden won in 2006 after coming through qualifying school but also became only the third South African - after Ernie Els and Retief Goosen - to win three times in a season.
Only two players - Spain's Seve Ballesteros (1977) and Briton Sandy Lyle (1979) - have won three European Tour titles in a single season at a younger age.
Grace carded four birdies against a solitary bogey in his final round and maintained at least a two-shot cushion over Colsaerts who also returned a 69.
"I stayed really calm today. I kept hitting the ball well. I missed a couple of shots the first couple of holes but regrouped well and made the birdies where it counts on the par 5s, and just stayed with it from there," Grace said.
Richard Finch finished one shot behind after a final-round 66, while fellow Briton Ian Poulter finished 10-under after an identical card.
In Jakarta, Lee Westwood overcame fatigue to win his first title of the year and 38th career victory with a successful title defense at the Indonesian Masters yesterday.
The world No. 3 completed a marathon of 32 holes as he returned yesterday morning to finish the third round before closing with a final-round 2-over 74 for a winning total of 16-under 272 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.
The Englishman defeated former Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who returned with a 67, by two shots while India's rising star Gaganjeet Bhullar and Shiv Kapur finished third.
Westwood, who finished tied third at the Masters two weeks ago, held a dominant eight-shot lead going into the final round but tiredness began to kick in on his homeward nine as he shot one birdie and three bogeys.
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