Global Golf Post - December 6, 2010

World No. 1 Lee Westwood cruised to an eight-shot victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in South Africa, preventing Tiger Woods from displacing him from atop the rankings.

The Englishman carded a 4-under-par 68 at the
Gary Player Country Club to finish with a 72-hole
total of 17-under-par 271.
South African Tim Clark came
in second at 9 under, while fel-
low South African Retief Goosen
and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimé-
nez were another shot back.

Woods, who carried a four-shot lead into the final round of his Chevron Challenge, could

have overtaken Westwood if he held on to win and Westwood had finished third or worse at the South African resort. But that became moot with Westwood’s stellar play in the 12-player field. He capped his performance with a chip-in on the final hole.

“I think that’s the first time I chipped in all year,”
Westwood joked afterward. “That’s what you call a
grandstand finish. It was a good time to do it.”
Westwood earned a US$1.25 million (£792,125)
first prize.

Ross Fisher, who began the final round five shots behind Westwood, faded with a stomach bug, which weakened him for much of the final two rounds, and he slid to a final 75 and a share of fifth with Ernie Els.

Westwood’s caddie, Billy Foster, also had the stomach bug, as did Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, whose performance over the final three rounds was substantially compromised. He brought up the rear of the field with his 2-over- par 290 after his final-round 74.

Lee Westwood

POULTER PAL LEWTON REACHES EURO TOUR Q-SCHOOL FINALS

England’s Steve Lewton, a close pal of Ian Poulter, hopes to join his mate on the European Tour after leading 23 qualifiers at the Tour’s rain-plagued, second-stage qualifying tournament at Arcos Gardens. Lewton shot a 68 in the final round to finish on 8 under. Christophe Brazillier and Birgir Hafthorsson shared second place.

At the El Valle Golf Resort qualifier, Switzerland’s Raphaël de Sousa, who lost his playing privileges on the Challenge Tour in 2009, closed with a 65 to take medalist honors. De Sousa’s 17-under par score was eight shots better than his closest challengers, Sweden’s Jens Dantorp and Spaniard Sebi Garcia.

In treacherous conditions at Costa Ballena Ocean Club, Norway’s Eirik Tage Johansen led the way. On a day in which only one player, Finland’s Antti Ahokas, broke par, Johansen maintained the lead he had held overnight with a closing round of 74 to finish on 10-under par. Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia took second on 8 under.

Sweden’s Martin Erlandsson and American Scott Harrington led the 23 players to the finals at Hacienda Del Alamo. Erlandsson carded a final-round 68 to finish on 12-under par, tied with Harrington who closed with a 70. The pair were two strokes clear of Danish youngster Andreas Hartø, who won twice on the Challenge Tour last year, and American Nico Bollini.

respective fields at the Pre-Qualifying stage of Ladies European Tour School at La Manga Club in Spain on Thursday.

Hedwall carded a third-round of 8-under- par 65 and finished with a 72-hole score of 277, 11-under par. Larsson closed with a 70 and a 7-under 281 total.

The leading 73 players will now join the existing LET members attempting to retain their cards, making a field of 104 players at the final qualifier from 15-20 December at La Manga Club. The top 30 will earn full membership.

Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg won the Hero Honda Indian Open at Delhi Golf Club for his second Asian Tour victory of the season. He earned US$198,125 from the $1.25 million purse.

Karlberg birdied the last two holes to close with a 2-under 70 to win by two shots from overnight leader Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea, who carded a final-round 73.

Arjun Atwal, India’s first winner on the PGA Tour, was among those who shared fifth place.

All the cool
golfers are
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PAIR LEAD LET QUALIFIERS

NCAA champion Caroline Hedwall and Louise Larsson of Sweden led the qualifiers from their

NEL TOPS SUNSHINE Q-SCHOOL

Colin Nel wrapped up the five-round Sunshine Tour Qualifying School Saturday at Bloemfontein Golf Club, shooting a 5-under 67 to win by eight shots from playing partner and amateur standout Allan Versfeld. Third was fellow amateur Dean O’Riley, who finished just a shot back on 12 under, matching Versfeld’s final-round 68.