by Paul Gallagher
Zimbabwe’s Mark McNulty fended off the challenge from a player less than half his age to secure victory in the South African Open and the winner’s cheque of stg£107,000 at the East London Golf Club today.
The 47-year-old shot a one under par 71 in the final round to finish with an eight under par total of 280 for the Championship, while 20-year-old Justin Rose had to settle for second place - one shot further back - for the second week in a row.
This was McNulty's second victory in the second oldest championship in golf after he won the title back in 1987.
The European Tour veteran displayed excellent composure on the last hole, when he holed a 20 foot putt for par. Rose, in turn had an opportunity to force a play-off but failed to convert his birdie putt from 15 feet on the final green.
The Hampshire based player also finished runner-up to Adam Scott in last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship. And thanks to a late sponsor’s invite this week, combined with a runners-up cheque for stg£78,321, Rose has now earned enough prize money to secure his Tour card for next season.
South African Roger Wessels tied for third with Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn on six under par, while overnight leader Hennie Otto closed with a disappointing five over par 77 to slip back to joint fifth with Swede Mikael Lundberg.
The best round of the day was compiled by Sheffield’s Malcolm McKenzie, whose course record 63 earned him a tie for seventh place.
Paul McGinley was the best placed of the Irish, finishing in a tie for 21st after shooting a final round 74 for a one under total 287.
After a poor third round 77, David Higgins picked up several places with a one under par 71 in the final round to finish tied for 45th.
The biggest surprise and ultimately disappointment from an Irish point of view, was the absence of last year’s European Tour Order of Merit runner-up, Darren Clarke for the weekend.
The pre tournament favourite shot consecutive rounds of 77 and 78 to exit early from the East London Club.