Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - South African golfer Rory Sabbatini faded to a share of 16th place on a total of 276, four under par in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial on the USPGA tour on Sunday.
Sabbatini fired a final round 73 to end any hopes he had of another good finish on the tour in recent weeks.
David Toms went on to win the event on 15 under par, 11 shots ahead of the South African.
The controversial and fiery Sabbatini was well placed going into the weekend after putting together rounds of 68 and 64.
The world No 47 produced an average third round of one-over-par 71 to remove himself from contention, but his form this season on the world circuit's premier tour has been impressive.
From 10 events he has put together three top-10 finishes including a win at the Honda Classic in March.
Sabbatini's earnings are already in excess of $2 million (R14 million).
On the European Tour, which hosted two simultaneous events last week, it was the man with the Green Jacket, Charl Schwartzel, who turned in the best finish by a South African at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Andalucia, Spain.
Schwartzel, who is now 13th in the world rankings, lost to world No 2 Luke Donald of England in the quarter-finals after two extra holes.
Donald went on to make the final, losing out to countryman Ian Poulter.
Retief Goosen (27th in rankings) and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen (30th) were both eliminated in the first round.
In the European Tour's secondary event it was Sunshine Tour winner Branden Grace who finished in a credible tie for 10th at the Madeira Island Open in Portugal.
Grace, who turned 23 on Friday, carded rounds of 74, 69, 71 and 70 for a total of 284 -- six shots behind winner Michael Hoey.
It was Grace's best finish on the European Tour outside the co-sanctioned events in South Africa. He returned an eighth place finish at the Africa Open in East London in January.
On the women's European Tour, Ashleigh Simon came down off the high of her victory the week before to finish 22 shots behind the winner in a tie of 54th on two under par at the UniCredit Ladies German Open in Germany.
Last season's Order of merit winner, Lee-Anne Pace, was the best of the South Africans, finishing in a tie for 23rd on seven under for the tournament.
Stacy Bregman from Johannesburg, who was on one over par after two rounds, missed the cut.
