A Wrap of South African Golfers this weekend

SUNSHINE TOUR

Bloemfontein’s Alex Haindl hit the jackpot at the inaugural Suncoast Classic at Durban Country Club when he sunk a mammoth 70-foot eagle putt at the second hole of a three-way play-off to win his maiden professional title.

Haindl fired a final round 67 to tie local favourite, Lindani Ndwandwe and Limpopo Classic champion, Bradford Vaughan, at the 72nd hole of regulation play on nine-under-par 207. The challengers matched Haindl’s birdie at the first play-off hole, but the 23-year old was unrivalled at the second.

His winner’s cheque of R54,950 moves Haindl to seventh on the current Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit, the highest ranking he has held in five years on the circuit.

US PGA TOUR

Trevor Immelman finished second behind American Brett Wetterich at the Byron Nelson Championship on the weekend, this second placing in as many weeks, following a play-off defeat by Jim Furyk at the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow last Sunday.

The final result sees Immelman launch to 14th from 29th on the PGA Tour Money List, the third highest South African behind Rory Sabbatini in seventh and world number three, Retief Goosen in ninth. Tim Clark, who missed his second cut this season, slips to 20th.

ASIAN TOUR

Sunshine Tour veteran Hendrik Buhrmann ended an agonising 11-year wait to claim his maiden Asian Tour title when he cruised an emphatic two-stroke victory at the inaugural Aamby Valley Asian Masters on Sunday.

The 42-year-old South African carded a final round of one-under-par 71 at the magnificent Aamby Valley Golf Club to finish two shots ahead of England’s Simon Hurd, who closed with a 73.

Burhmann picked up a cheque of US$63,400 from the US$400,000 Asian Tour event with a winning total of 11-under-par 277.

EUROPEAN TOUR

2004 Sunshine Tour rookie, Johan Edfors, became the first Swedish winner in the tournament’s history when he produced a final round two-under-par 70 to capture his second European Tour title at The Quinn Direct British Masters at The De Vere Belfry on Sunday.

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel claimed a share of 27th on the final day with a final round 73, while Warren Abery tied for 47th on one-over-par 289.