Golf News: South African Open

SOUTH Africa's James Kingston claimed his first European Tour title when he won the South African Open by one stroke at Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

The 42-year-old has won four times on the Asian Tour and nine times on the Sunshine Tour, but has finished runner-up on three previous occasions on the European Tour.

Kingston saw off England's Oliver Wilson to win by a stroke after his one under par final round.

The South African finished on four-under for the tournament.

His victory also ensured the trophy stayed in the republic for the eighth straight year.

Kingston started the final round one stroke behind Wilson, who lost the lead on the first hole after a bogey five.

Steady drizzle fell throughout the day, calling for composure and patience from the leaders, whose tee-off times were delayed by three-and-a-half hours.

Despite Wilson dropping two more shots on the front nine, Kingston was unable to break free as he found the water on the par-three fourth hole for a double bogey and also dropped a shot on the ninth.

Wilson rallied with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, but Kingston held his nerve better than ever before in his career and completed the victory with a two-putt par on the par-five 18th as darkness settled over Pearl Valley.

Reuters

Immelman wins Nedbank golf challenge

England's Justin Rose faltered at the death as South African Trevor Immelman pipped him by one stroke to win the Sun City Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club on Sunday.

Rose and Immelman arrived at the 18th hole tied on 18 under par but the Englishman pulled his drive way left and could only chip his second shot sideways. It was a telling mistake as Immelman could afford to overshoot the green with his approach shot. He then mishit his first chip shot, moving the ball forward only about two feet.

se was unable to come up with a third shot to capitalise, however, landing up in the grandstand behind the green. Even though he was offered relief with a free drop, Rose could not make a 12-foot putt for bogey and his ball curled away from the hole.

Immelman then sank a three-foot putt for bogey after a much better second chip shot to finish on 272 and the trophy was his, returning to South Africa for the first time since Retief Goosen won in 2004....

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Nedbank Golf Challenge - 3rd Day Wrap

A terrific duel between Justin Rose of England and South Africa's Trevor Immelman in the Nedbank Golf Challenge continued at Gary Player Country Club on Saturday.

Both players scored five-under-par 67s to share the 54-hole lead on 16-under-par 200.

The pair of 27-year-olds were also joint leaders at the halfway mark in this 12-man line-up featuring eight of the world's top 20 players.

Rose, the world No 8, is bidding to become the first tournament rookie to win here and pocket the 1,2-million dollar first prize, while world No 22 Immelman made his debut last year when he was seventh behind winner Jim Furyk of the United States...

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Golf News: Everything is Rosey at Sun City

A second round of one-under-par 71 dropped Adam Scott from the lead of the Sun City golf invitational on Friday.

As the Australian dropped five shots off the pace, England's Justin Rose fired a seven-under 65 to move into a share of the lead at Gary Player Country Club.

The European number one started the day one shot down but five birdies on the back nine gave him an 11-under-par total of 133 alongside South Africa's Trevor Immelman.

Immelman and Rose, both 27, duelled for the lead throughout an enthralling second day and Immelman eventually needed a birdie at the par-four 18th to ensure a share of the lead midway through the invitational tournament...

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Golf Poll: Which South African will have the best finish this weekend

Who will be the top placed South African this weekend Ernie Els Rory Sabbatini Retief Goosen Charl Schwartzel Trevor Immelman view results

Nedbank Golf Challenge - Preview

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is a popular tournament in South Africa played over the Gary Player Country Club Course in Sun City. The tournament is a twelve man invitational stroke play event.

This years tournament features:

Player	Country	Comments
Jim Furyk	United States	Withdrawn due to recent injury
Ernie Els	South Africa
Adam Scott	Australia
Pádraig Harrington	Ireland
Rory Sabbatini	South Africa
Sergio García	Spain	Withdrawn due to personal reasons
Justin Rose	England
Geoff Ogilvy	Australia
Luke Donald	England
Henrik Stenson	Sweden
Retief Goosen	South Africa
Charl Schwartzel	South Africa
Trevor Immelman	South Africa	Late entrant (replaces García)
Niclas Fasth	Sweden	Late entrant (replaces Furyk)

My Thoughts
As this is a South African tournament I think the locals have the best chance of taking out the tournament. I will be watching out for Ernie Els (who has won 3 times), Rory Sabbatini, Retief Goosen. My outside tip is Trevor Immelman who has replaced Garcia in the tournament.