GOLF NEWS - Home favourite Branden Grace displayed all his class and winning experience by producing a flawless final-round 66 for a one-stroke victory in the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City on Sunday.
The 29-year-old South African delighted a huge last-day crowd with a bogey-free display to capture an eighth European Tour title after finishing 11 under par overall.
Half of Grace's European Tour wins have come on home soil.
Grace went into the round trailing three shots off the lead before making it a three-way tie at the top with a birdie at the 14th and then breaking clear by sinking a 40-footer for birdie at 16.
He calmly secured victory with back-to-back pars on the closing two holes to seal a first-place cheque worth 1.07 million euros ($1.25 million).
"This is awesome," Grace said. "This is the one event that as a South African you want to win.
"It's Africa's major for a reason and what a special place it is. There's a lot of history and a lot of great winners on the trophy and I'm very glad to be able to put my name on the trophy, as well."
The win lifted Grace to ninth on the Race to Dubai points table and effectively bumped the sidelined Rory McIlroy outside of the top 10, ensuring the Northern Irishman will end the year outside the leading 10 for the first time in four years.
It was a much-needed glimmer of sunshine on a disappointing weekend for South African sport, after a record rugby union defeat by Ireland and their failure to reach the football World Cup.
Victory will also see Grace, who carded a major record 62 at the British Open earlier this year, move from 44th to 30th in the world rankings.
Scotland's Scott Jamieson (70) was second at 10 under par with Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (70) third on nine-under.
Jamieson went into the last day leading and looking for just a second Tour victory, after his 2012 Nelson Mandela Championship triumph in Durban.
