• Avantha Masters, Round Four

Kruger comes through to win in India

Jbe Kruger won by two shots from Jorge Campillo © Getty Images

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Jbe Kruger won the Avantha Masters on Sunday, after Scotland's Peter Whiteford was disqualified for a third-round infraction.

South African Kruger completed a two-shot victory over Jorge Campillo and Marcel Siem to end the wait for his first European Tour title - long after Whiteford's campaign had been brought to an end by rules officials.

He was disqualified while on the fourth hole of his final round after television replays showed his ball had moved at address prior to his approach shot into the 18th on Saturday - an infraction for which he should have taken a one-shot penalty.

With rules officials deeming the player to have had time to check with them before signing his scorecard, Whiteford - who had asked his playing partner and a nearby television crew about the incident and been told that they had seen no movement - was thus disqualified.

"If Peter Whiteford had contacted a member of the Rules Team before signing his scorecard, the footage would have been reviewed at the time and he would have averted the disqualification penalty," chief referee John Paramor said.

The drama did not affect Kruger, however, as he held onto the lead thanks to four birdies around the turn, until a wobble over the closing holes threatened to see him throw the title away.

A bogey at the 17th opened the door for Siem coming into the last, especially after Kruger's first two shots found trouble, but the South African held his nerve to make the green with his third shot - eventually holing out for par to sign for a round of 69 and 14-under total that was too good for his rivals.

Elsewhere, Marcus Fraser finished in a tie for fourth at 11-under, alongside Jose Manuel Lara.

Thorbjorn Olesen continued a promising start to the 2012 season with a sixth-place finish at 10-under, alongside Tano Goya, Prom Meesawat and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.

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