Publications
Partners
Malelane - Home favourite Garth Mulroy held off a spirited final-round challenge from Briton George Murray to win his first tour title by two shots at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa on Sunday.
The world No 281 posted a final round four-under 68 to finish on 19-under 269, clear of Murray (67) with four players four strokes further back in third.
Mulroy sparkled on the back nine on Saturday when he carded five straight birdies, and his game was again on song for Sunday's final stretch when he notched up four birdies, including a monster putt for a two at the par-three 16th.
"I don't think I've ever raised my hand before a putt went in, but I did it there," the 33-year-old said at the trophy presentation ceremony.
World No 95 George Coetzee of South Africa, the highest-ranked player in the field, hit a 69 to finish tied third (275) with compatriot Jaco van Zyl (67), Chile's Felipe Aguilar (72) and Briton Peter Whiteford (71).
Mulroy began the final round holding a two-shot lead but he gave a shot back almost immediately with a bogey on the par-five second hole.
The drop shot left him in a three-way tie with fellow South Africans Jbe' Kruger and Hennie Otto but Mulroy gradually found his rhythm on the picturesque Gary Player-designed course on the border of the Kruger National Park game reserve.
Mulroy fired four birdies in eight holes to move to 18-under after 13 and a three-shot lead.
But a fast-finishing Murray provided Mulroy with a few anxious moments.
Murray, who began the day on 12-under par, made a solid if unspectacular start to his fourth round as he reeled off seven consecutive pars but he made his charge with three birdies from the eighth to the 11th holes.
The 28-year-old Murray rushed into a share for the lead thanks to a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-five 15th while Mulroy bogeyed the par-four 14th after finding the rough off the tee.
Mulroy, playing with a distinctive yellow golf ball, edged back in to a one-stroke lead with a birdie on the 15th hole before slamming the door on his opponents thanks to a 45-foot birdie putt on the par-three 16th.
Mulroy has recently earned his PGA Tour card and said he was undecided as to what he would spend next season on.
"I haven't even thought about it. It's nice to have options though. It's just a pity the tours are at the same time," he quipped.
269 - Garth Mulroy 69 68 64 68
271 - George Murray (SCO) 66 69 69 67
275 - Jaco Van Zyl 68 68 72 67, George Coetzee 66 71 69 69, Peter Whiteford(SCO) 73 67 64 71, Felipe Aguilar (CHL) 71 64 68 72
276 - Andrea Pavan (ITA) 68 70 68 70, Hennie Otto 69 68 67 72
277 - James Kamte 72 70 69 66, Steven Tiley (ENG) 70 69 70 68, Jbe' Kruger 64 67 73 73
279 - Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (FRA) 66 71 69 73
280 - Darren Fichardt 71 70 67 72, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 70 71 67 72
281 - Sam Little (ENG) 70 72 69 70, Robert Dinwiddie (ENG) 71 68 71 71, Graeme Storm (ENG) 72 68 70 71, Christiaan Basson 70 70 68 73, Vaughn Groenewald 76 65 66 74
282 - Tim Sluiter (NED) 70 74 69 69, Grant Muller 72 68 72 70, Doug McGuigan 70 73 68 71, Bryce Easton 72 65 73 72, Phillip Price (WAL) 74 70 66 72, Seve Benson (ENG) 64 71 73 74, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 68 70 70 74, Linus Gillgren (SWE) 69 71 68 74, Merrick Bremner 68 68 69 77
283 - Martin Maritz 77 67 69 70, Oliver Bekker 73 69 70 71, Tjaart van der Walt 69 69 72 73
284 - Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 74 66 73 71, Stuart Manley (WAL) 71 71 71 71, Justin Walters 71 72 70 71, Robert Coles (ENG) 74 69 68 73, Jarmo Sandelin (SWE) 76 67 68 73
285 - Alan McLean (SCO) 66 73 71 75
286 - Shaun Norris 71 72 71 72, Josh Cunliffe 67 75 69 75, Robert Rock (ENG) 69 75 67 75
287 - Adam Gee (ENG) 72 70 71 74, Andrew Curlewis 72 70 70 75, Lloyd Saltman (SCO) 70 68 71 78
288 - Jean Hugo 69 73 73 73, Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 72 70 72 74, David Hewan 67 71 75 75, Lee Slattery (ENG) 67 75 71 75, Keith Horne 74 70 69 75
289 - Tano Goya (ARG) 69 70 79 71, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 72 71 72 74, Sebi Garcia (ESP) 73 71 71 74, Trevor Fisher Jnr 72 70 71 76, Richard McEvoy (ENG) 72 72 69 76, Alastair Forsyth(SCO) 75 68 68 78
290 - Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 72 72 74 72
291 - Allan Versfeld 75 69 73 74
292 - Sam Hutsby (ENG) 72 71 76 73, Oskar Henningsson (SWE) 76 67 72 77, Jurgen Maurer (AUT) 78 65 72 77
293 - Warren Abery 75 69 74 75, Neil Schietekat 69 75 73 76
296 - Des Terblanche 72 72 78 74, Liam Bond (WAL) 69 75 75 77
297 - Tyrone Mordt 68 75 78 76
299 - Alan Michell 71 73 77 78
303 - Chris Swanepoel 69 71 85 78, Michiel Bothma 71 73 79 80
