• Joburg Open, Round Four

Grace holds on for first European Tour victory

Branden Grace marked his 50th European Tour appearance with a maiden title © Getty Images

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Branden Grace did just enough to claim his maiden European Tour crown at the Joburg Open, the South African pipping Englishman Jamie Elson to the title by one stroke.

The 23-year-old returned to Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club early on Sunday morning to complete the three outstanding holes of his third round (a consequence of lengthy thunderstorms delaying the first two days) and, having birdied the last two holes, he started the final round three clear.

With breathing space between himself and Richard Finch, Grace began the final 18 knowing he could afford a slight dip in form and still have a good chance of triumphing. However, the alarm bells would have rung when he bogeyed the second and Finch birdied the opening hole to move within one.

Undeterred, Grace picked up a shot before the turn and he was given a huge lift as Finch's title bid crumbled with three-putts at the fifth and sixth. The former Irish Open winner's game imploded and he eventually signed for a 78 to plummet down the leaderboard and finish on eight-under for the week.

Grace continued to play steady, if not spectacular, golf and, with no-one from the chasing pack able to launch a late charge, he managed to get the job done with a final-round 72 and 17-under total.

"It's a dream come true," said Grace. "It's nice to win in front of a home crowd and I wouldn't exchange it for anything else.

"It was pretty tough out there today. I played really nicely, I hit the ball superb I think, and the putter was just cold - I couldn't get the speed of the greens going today. Fortunately at the end of the day it was enough. I think there was one big key today, Zack [Rasego] on the bag, kept me calm throughout the whole day so big thanks to him."

Elson, who only secured a European Tour card last month, surged into the reckoning with six birdies in his first eight holes and he almost capped a tremendous round by winning on the last, but he narrowly missed with a 30-foot eagle attempt. Still, a best-of-the-day 63 was some consolation as he finished out on his own in second place.

Three bogeys in his first four holes all but ended Grace's compatriot George Coetzee's hopes. He rallied to head for the back nine level-par for the day but more strife coming in saw him sign for a disappointing 75 and end the tournament on 11-under.

Two-time major champion Retief Goosen struggled to find his best form and he could only manage a 16th-placed finish following a one-over 73, while Robert Rock finished in a tie for ninth after a 70.

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