SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Local boy Tim Clark became the first pre-qualifier to win the South African Open with a dazzling performance on the final day at Durban Country Club. Clark shot a seven-under-par 65 to finish at 19 under, winning by two shots from England's Steve Webster, who was four shots ahead of Jonathan Lomas and James Kingston in joint third place.
It was the third time that the 26-year-old Webster had come second since winning the European Tour qualifying school in 1995. Starting the day at nine under par, he fashioned a brilliant 64 with an eagle, seven birdies and one dropped shot.
The diminutive Webster felt going out that 17 under par would win, but reckoned without Clark's 65. He said: "Every time I got close I looked up on the board and he'd birdied again."
Clark was a star college golfer at North Carolina State and won his way onto the USPGA Tour through the Buy.com Tour. But exactly a year ago, in his second event, he damaged a wrist so badly it needed surgery.
Clark has been given a medical exemption to play this year, but that was not enough to persuade the Sunshine Tour to invite him to play the SA Open. Having grown up 30 miles down the coast in Umkomaas, and having won three junior titles at Durban CC, he felt he had a point to prove.
He duly headed the field in pre-qualifying with a 66, shot the same score in the first round and never looked back. Paired with Retief Goosen in the final twoball yesterday, he showed no nerves, went out in 32, dropped his only shot at the 11th and came home in 33.
"I was disappointed that I didn't get an invitation," he said, "but friends and family encouraged me to come out and pre-qualify and I'm glad I did. It was great to have everyone walking with me, but it made me a lot more nervous."
The Scot Paul Lawrie, who also knows what it's like to pre-qualify and win an Open, finished among the pack at five under par, while the other two major winners in the field, Goosen and Ernie Els, tied for fifth and 13th respectively.
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