GOLF/South Africa: Reteif Goosen clinched his second consecutive title yesterday, reeling off four birdies in his last eight holes to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am by three shots.
The US Open champion, who cruised to victory by eight strokes in last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia, closed with a superb 66 at the Gary Player Country Club to finish at 20-under-par 268.
Scotland's Scott Drummond, joint leader with Goosen overnight, had to settle for second place on 271 after a final round of 69, while South Africa's Jaco van Zyl was two shots further back in third, also after a 69.
"Scott played really well. He kept coming back at me and he holed a lot of putts," Goosen told the PGA Tour website.
"He only made one mistake and that was at the seventh," added Goosen, who was celebrating his first success on home soil since winning the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club in 1995.
Drummond played the seventh with a one-shot lead but a double bogey, coupled with a birdie for Goosen, ensured a three-shot swing.
Goosen increased his lead after sinking a 40-foot birdie at the par-three 13th, and followed that up with birdies at the next and the 17th.
"The 17th was a key birdie because it was nice to have a three-shot lead playing the last, which is a par five. It was good just to need a two-putt for the win," Goosen added.
"I've got to refresh my mind a bit now. I felt really tired over the last two days. I had sore feet and spent a lot of time in the physio room to keep me back in shape, so I've got to take a break.
"But at least I know I'm playing well when I return."
Defending champion Darren Clarke shared eighth spot on 279 - with the South African pair of Tim Clark and Craig Lile - after scores of 73, 68, 68 and 70.
Paul McGinley (70) and Paddy Gribben (77) were next best of the Irish on 284, tied 22nd, while Peter Lawrie (73) was tied 39th.
Ciaran McMonagle missed the cut by just one shot, while David Higgins was two shots further adrift.
Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty, last year's Southern African Tour order of merit winner, tied for 11th on 281, with a closing73, while compatriot and former world number one Nick Price was joint 15th on 282 after slipping to a 74.
LEADING SCORES
(South African unless stated)
268 - R Goosen 63 70 69 66.
271 - S Drummond (Britain) 66 67 69 69.
273 - J Van Zyl 73 67 64 69.
274 - T van der Walt 67 69 71 67.
275 - D Park (Britain) 71 70 65 69.
276 - M Kirk 69 71 69 67.
278 - D Gammon 70 71 67 70.
279 - D Clarke (NI) 73 68 68 70, T Clark 68 69 71 71, C Lile 67 68 71 73.
281 - T Moore 68 73 72 68, N Lawrence 69 69 71 72, M McNulty (Zimbabwe) 71 67 70 73, M Archer (Britain) 69 68 71 73.
282 - S Hurd (Britain) 69 73 68 72, N Price (Zimbabwe) 69 72 67 74.
