Branden Grace takes SANLAM SA Amateur Strokeplay
On a windy final day, leading South African after 54 holes, Branden Grace (Southern Cape), held off Oliver Fisher from England to win the SANLAM SA Amateur Stroke play Championship. With a par on the final hole, Branden managed to close out Fisher by one stroke after Fisher had posted the lead in the club house. Not having a round over par, Branden posted rounds of 68;72;67 and 70 to finish on a 277 (-11) total. Overnight leader, Edward Richardson, was at -12 (level for the day) playing the 8th hole when disaster struck. Making 8 (+3) on the par five 8th and a double bogey 5 on the par 3 9th, Richardson battled to recover, finaly signing for a final round 78 (+6) and a four round total of 282 (-6).
With 7 South Africans in the top 32, the local players will have a hard time of making the double, by keeping both stroke play and match play titles in SA. The match play stages start at the De Zalze Golf Course at 07h00 tomorrow morning with two of the SA players, Branden Grace taking on Keenan Davidse.
The finals of the SANLAM SA Amateur will be contested in a 36 hole final on Saturday the 11th March.