Branden Grace claims ninth European Tour title at South African Open

Branden Grace fired a final round 62 to earn his ninth European Tour title at the South African Open

Branden Grace held off Louis Oosthuizen during a thrilling final round as he stormed to a three-stroke victory at Randpark Golf Club with a closing nine-under 62.

Oosthuizen had begun the final round with a one stroke lead and wowed the home crowds with a hole-in-one at the eighth, but it was Grace who took advantage at the start of the back nine as he separated himself from the defending champion to get to 21-under-par. 

“That was remarkable,” Grace said. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

After starting the day three strokes behind Oosthuizen, Grace looked unlikely to make a move after dropping a shot at the second, but he quickly recovered with a birdie at the next, before holing a 25 foot eagle putt on the third and adding a further birdie at the fifth. 

Just a hole later he found himself in a tie for the lead after Marcus Armitage three putted the sixth, and he moved in front for the first time after holing a 15-foot birdie putt on seven.

Grace then recovered with a brilliant up and down on the eighth to stay ahead, but was soon overtaken by Louis Oosthuizen with his superb hole in one at the same hole. 

Grace pulled back in to a tie for the lead with another lengthy birdie putt on the ninth, and briefly led on his own with a birdie at the 11th, which Oosthuizen soon followed. 

But that was the end of the challenge between the pair, as Grace followed up with three more birdies in a row to get to 21-under-par and open up a three stroke lead. 

In the end, a straightfoward finish of four pars was more than enough to capture his ninth European Tour title. 

But a trophy wasn’t the only perk for Grace, whose victory secured him a spot at this year’s Open Championship, where he will be joined by fellow qualifiers Marcus Armitage and Jaco Ahlers.

Englishman Armitage birdied the last to finish at 16 under and secure his spot at Royal St George’s Golf Club, with home favourite Ahlers a shot behind alongside Jack Senior, earning his own spot at The Open due to a higher world ranking than Senior.