Tim Clark secures surprise victory in South Africa
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2002 South African Open | Wrap | 14 Jan 2002
Despite being a US Tour player, 26-year-old South African Tim Clark had to endure Monday qualifying to get a spot in his national open. He successfully managed to do that and now has one of the more cherished titles for any golfer his own Open Championship to his name.
Clark, who had secured his card for the US Tour via the Buy.Com Tour in 2000, sustained a wrist injury in his third event the AT&T Pebble Beach event in 2001 and he will play on a medical extension in 2002.
Clark was a highly successful collegiate golfer in the US and played as an amateur in the US Masters in 1998 following his success in the Public Links Championship, which qualified him for Augusta. He then went on to win twice on Canadian Tour that year before joining the Buy.Com Tour in 1999. Two wins there in 2000 saw him gain his card for the USPGA Tour.
He is clearly another outstanding talent from South Africa and now that he is fit look for him to do well in the US this year. That he was in or near the lead throughout speaks volumes not only for his game but his mental approach. His last round of 65 saw him win by two over England’s Steve Webster and with Webster shooting 64 on the last day they distanced themselves from third placed Jonathon Lomas of England and South African James Kingston.
Pre-tournament favourites Retief Goosen and Ernie Els were fifth and thirteenth respectively.
The South African Tour heads now to Johannesburg for another event co-sanctioned with the European Tour, the Alfred Dunhill, where Adam Scott defends his title.
