Stellar Sterne wins Joburg playoff
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2008 Joburg Open | Round Four | 14 Jan 2008
South African Richard Sterne today won his third European Tour event and continued his significant rise in world golf when he captured the Joburg Open after a three way playoff that also included fellow countryman, Garth Mulroy, and Swede, Magnus Carlsson.
26-year-old Sterne arrived in Joburg after what had been his best season in golf, finishing 14th on the 2007 European Tour Order of Merit and rising from well outside the top 200 in the world rankings twelve months ago to finish the year in 44th position. Sterne first joined the European Tour in 2003 and has comfortably retained his card ever since.
Today he started his final round in 13th place and four shots behind the long time leader, Mark Murless and a bogey at the first hole hardly gave an indication as to what was about to unfold. He re-gathered and made the turn in two under 34 and then powered home in 31 including birdies at the 17th and 18th to hold the lead with his playing partner Carlsson, who had also finished strongly, as they walked from the 18th green.
Mulroy was playing two groups behind Carlsson and Sterne and although he birdied the 16th he was unable to repeat at the 17th or, more realistically, the par five last and so he, Sterne and Carlsson headed for the par five 18th to decide the winner.
All three birdied the first extra hole with Carlsson and Mulroy forced to get up and down to do so but at the second extra hole Sterne again found the green and two putted for birdie while his playing partners were unable to match him after missing the green.
For Mulroy it was a great opportunity missed. He played on the Nationwide Tour in 2007 and did well enough to record five top tens and finish 34th on the money list. He could only manage 64th place at the PGA Tour School and so will again play the Nationwide Tour in 2008 but a win here would have given him an all important European Tour card.
It was not to be and neither was it for Carlsson but the 27-year-old Swede already has European Tour status via his Challenge Tour efforts in 2007.
Darren Clarke threatened to challenge the lead at various stages through his final round but eventually finished alone in 4th place although his recent third place at the South African Open and now another good performance this week have him well and truly on the road to recovering his best form.
Mark Murless, who had led from the opening round, faded early in his back nine today and finished in a share of 5th.
It was a disappointing week for the Australasians in the field with Scott Barr, Terry Pilkadaris, Steve Alker and Gareth Paddison all missing the cut.
The next European Tour event is the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship this week where Adam Scott and Padraig Harrington head a field looking for a share of the US$2 million on offer.
