Sunday 19 October 2014 19:41, UK
South African Lee-Anne Pace birdied the second extra hole in a sudden death playoff against England’s Holly Clyburn to win the South African Women’s Open at San Lameer Golf Club in KwaZulu-Natal.
The pair both narrowly missed 10-foot birdie putts at the first extra hole – the 18th – but after they returned to the 18th tee, Clyburn’s second shot found water and Pace stepped in to secure her ninth Ladies European Tour title.
Pace and Clyburn finished the 54-hole tournament on five-under 211 with the former closing with a five-under 67 which included an eagle at the par-five 13th and a birdie at the 18th.
Clyburn, playing in the last group, carded a closing 70 after combining 16 steady pars with birdies at the first and 13th.
The duo finished two shots clear of Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera, with Florentyna Parker, Ann-Kathrin Lindner, Valentine Derrey and Georgina Simpson a stroke behind in fourth.
Second-round leader Leigh Whittaker tied for eighth place with Fabienne In-Albon, while first-round leader Charley Hull shared 10th after a triple bogey on 11 effectively ended her title hopes in the last round.
Pace said: “I’ve always wanted to win this tournament. It was definitely one of my goals this year, so to do it in front of so many lovely people supporting me was just a dream come true.”
