Golf
Schwartzel becomes the first golfer to win the Alfred Dunhill three times─── 09:48 Mon, 02 Dec 2013
Charl Schwartzel made history when he became the first three-time winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek on Sunday.
The South African successfully defended his title with a final round of 68 for a four-stroke victory on 17 under par. England's Richard Finch finished second on 13 under after a closing 70.
It follows his record victory in the 2012 tournament when he posted the lowest tournament total in the history of the championship of 24 under par to win by 12 strokes. He also won here in 2004, to take his first European Tour title.
"This tournament has been very good to me. I've had lots of seconds here as well. Probably for the rest of my golfing career this will always be a special one. I don't think that will change," said Schwartzel.
Schwartzel went into the final round with a two-stroke lead over Finch. They fought an incredible battle over the front nine, virtually matching each other shot for shot. Finch started with two birdies in the first three holes to share the lead with Schwartzel. Schwartzel then birdied the par-three fifth after a sublime tee shot to within three feet of the hole, giving him the sole lead again. They matched each other for birdies on the sixth and eighth holes, and then the turning point came on the par-four 11th.
Finch pushed his drive deep into the right rough and had to take a penalty drop, doing well to make a bogey from there. Schwartzel's par gave him a two-shot cushion.
The young South African moved three clear with a birdie on the par-five 13th. And when Finch double-bogeyed the 14th after a very unlucky bounce over the back of the green, Schwartzel took an easy stroll into the bushveld sunset on his way to victory.
"I played pretty flawless golf. I hit the right shots at the right time and when I did miss my short game was in good form. There were a few close calls where other players came up, but I just stuck to what I was trying to do and it worked out well in the end."
- SAPA.
Micahel Vlismas reports on Schwartzels' third Alfred Dunhill Championship title:
