GOLF DIGEST:RICHARD STERNE was the main benefactor on the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, clinching the tournament by one shot after both Thomas Aiken and Len Mattiace threw away their overnight advantages at the Leopard Creek Golf Club in Malelane yesterday.
The 27-year-old South African carded a final round three-under-par 69 for an overall total of 271, making the most of constant lapses from overnight leader Aiken and American Mattiace, who ended day four with scores of 75 and 77 respectively.
Englishman Robert Rock finished tied-second with Johan Edfors - the Swede carding a 66 for the best final round score alongside Alan McLean and 2007 South Open winner James Kingston.
Aiken, who powered his way to a course-record 61 on Saturday and held a one-stroke lead heading into the final day, finished in fourth place with Rafael Cabrera Bello on 15 under par, while Scotland's McLean and another home favourite Keith Horne finished a further stroke back.
But the day belonged to Sterne, whose last win on the European Tour came at the Joburg Open at the start of 2008.
Gareth Maybin was best of the Irish on 279 after a final round of 72 while Damien McGrane shot a 73 for 280. Jonathan Caldwell had a disappointing 77 for 286.
• LET TOUR: Annika Sorenstam brought the curtain down on her 15-year career yesterday by finishing in a five-way tie for seventh place at the Dubai Women's Masters.
The 37-year-old, who had topped the leaderboard at the halfway stage, fell off the pace in the final two rounds to card an overall score of six-under-par 282, seven shots behind tournament winner Anja Monke of Germany.
Sorenstam's final round of 71 included four birdies - one of which came on the 18th - and three bogeys, and the Swede had mixed emotions when she walked off the final green. "I'm both happy and sad," she said.
"The motivation is no longer there but I'm very proud of what I've achieved in the last 15 years."
Many of Sorenstam's fellow players applauded her off the 18th green and she added: "It means a lot."
England's Laura Davies was a further shot behind after a closing 69, with Sophie Giquel of France fourth on eight under and Trish Johnson and Iben Tinning tied on seven under for fifth place.
Martina Gillen fired a final round 71 for 289 while Hazel Kavanagh's 83 left her on a final tally of 302.
• South Africa's Tim Clark claimed the 2008 Australian Open by defeating Mathew Goggin on the first hole of a dramatic sudden-death play-off at Royal Sydney GC yesterday.
Having sizzled around the windswept layout in 67 to force a play-off, Clark claimed the Stonehaven Cup with a miraculous sand-save on the first extra hole, forcing Goggin to make a testing three-foot putt to stay alive. But Goggin's par-saving effort was unsuccessful leaving the Tasmanian to settle for runner-up honours for the second straight week.
Earlier, overnight leader David Smail appeared in cruise control leading by three shots late in the day before consecutive double bogeys derailed his campaign and opened the door for Goggin and Clark.
The trouble started with a wayward tee shot at the par-four 15th, and when he again found the trees at 16, forcing him to chip out into the fairway, his chances of victory quickly faded.
Robert Allenby finished his round in style with a birdie at the 18th but it wasn't enough to force his way into the play-off.
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