Ernie Els saved his best for last with a final round 65 and was rewarded with his first individual win of the year in the South African Players’ Championship at Royal Cape Golf Club today.
The world number four, who looked too far off the pace starting the day six shots adrift, stormed up the leaderboard to win by one shot on 15 under par (273) from a chasing quartet of players which included last year’s champion Trevor Immelman (67) and the 2001 US Open champion Retief Goosen (72).
Scotland’s Alan McLean, however, will feel the most aggrieved. He bogeyed the final hole to squander his chances of a play-off. The resident professional at Cape Town Golf Club carded a level par 72 while South Africa’s Martin Maritz fired a closing 67 for his share of second.
Stephen Browne, making his professional debut, had a week to be proud of despite stumbling with a final round 74. The 27-year-old Dubliner finished six shots off the pace on nine under to claim a share of 11th place.
Els rolled in five birdies in six holes from the second to reach the turn in 31. The South African’s day got even better when he made an eagle at the 11th and a birdie at the 16th was cancelled with his only dropped shot of the day at the 17th.
Victory on home soil offered Els some consolation for losing out in a play-off to Sergio Garcia in the Sun City Challenge a week ago.