Graceful end to Joburg Open

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A year ago, Branden Grace would’ve told you he wasn’t ready to win on the European Tour. But at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club on Sunday, he looked every bit the champion.

The young South African claimed his maiden European Tour title with a one-stroke victory over England’s Jamie Elson. And he did so with a measured 72 on the final day of a difficult week of weather delays, ending on 17-under-par.

"This has been coming for a long time. It’s fantastic to get my first European Tour win at home," said Grace, who lost his card on the European Tour, but gained invaluable experience on the Challenge Tour in 2011.

"I wasn’t ready to be on the European Tour the first time. I was a good player, but not great. Taking a step back was good for me. I kept believing in myself and kept trying."

He regained his card at the Tour’s Qualifying School late last year. But with this victory can rest even easier.

"It’s amazing. I’ll never forget that feeling walking up to the 18th green knowing that I had done it – that this was my week."

The weather-delayed third round had to be completed on Sunday morning, and Grace did so superbly by making five birdies in his final six holes for a three-stroke lead on 17 under.

But it was Elson who lit up the final round. The Englishman birdied the first on the East Course and then reeled off five consecutive birdies from the fourth on his way to a front nine of 31. A birdie at 16 and an eagle on 18 gave him a sublime 63 that put him in the clubhouse on 16 under.

But Grace did his best not to focus too much on Elson’s clubhouse mark. He bogeyed the second, birdied the ninth, and then played magnificent par golf to take the title. It was a display highlighted by his approaches into the greens, even if his putter didn’t warm to the challenge.

"I played superbly. The putter was cold, but I still managed to get the job done. My approaches were excellent. I saw Jamie’s score, but I knew he had finished, so it was now in my hands to get the job done. I just stuck to my gameplan."

Grace’s victory comes in his 50th European Tour event, and continues the great run of the South Africans on the Tour. South African golfers have now won four of the last six tournaments on the European Tour.

FINAL SCORES (All South African unless stated otherwise)

270 - Branden Grace 67-66-65-72

271 - Jamie Elson (ENG) 63-75-70-63

273 - David Drysdale (SCO) 65 72 69 67, Marc Warren (SCO) 66-69-70-68, Jaco van Zyl 67-69-69-68, Trevor Fisher jnr 68-68-69-68, Dawie van der Walt 70-66-67-70, Michiel Bothma 68-66-68-71

274 - George Murray (SCO) 65-69-73-67, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-66-69-69, Robert Rock (ENG) 65-67-72-70, Jbe' Kruger 67-66-69-72

275 - Andrew Parr (CAN) 70-69-64-72

276 - Danny Willett (ENG) 69-67-68-72, George Coetzee 65-67-69-75

277 - Retief Goosen 66-67-71-73

278 - Lee Slattery (ENG) 72-67-69-70, Craig Lee (SCO) 64-74-70-70, Andrew Marshall (ENG) 70-69-71-68, Chris Swanepoel 68-69-73-68, Magnus Carlsson (SWE) 70-66-70-72, Reinier Saxton (NED) 64-73-69-72, Joakim Lagergren (SWE) 70-67-68-73

279 - Lyle Rowe 66-69-74-70, Ulrich van den Berg 68-68-71-72, Julien Quesne (FRA) 65-72-70-72, Thomas Aiken 68-68-70-73, Warren Abery 66-72-68-73, Shaun Norris 65-69-71-74, Scott Jamieson (SCO) 68-67-70-74, Richard Finch (ENG) 66-66-69-78

Report Day 1 - Start of Round 1
Report Day 2 - Completion of Round 1
Report Day 2 - Start of Round 2
Report Day 3 - Completion of Round 2
Report Day 3 - Start of Round 3
Report Day 4 - Completion of Round 3

Report from Michael Vlismas Media