Immelman wins first title in playoff

Local favourite Trevor Immelman birdied the first extra hole of a sudden death playoff to claim his maiden European Tour victory at the South African Open on Sunday.

Immelman and compatriot Tim Clark, the defending champion, both ended the regulation 72 holes on 14-under-par 274 at the Erinvale Golf Club after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively.

The 23-year-old Immelman birdied six of the last 12 holes to force a playoff and then hit a nine iron to five inches on the par-four 18th for a birdie and a remarkable victory having started the day three shots off the lead.

"I don't really know what to say," said an emotional Immelman who was a runner-up three times on the Tour in 2002.

"I've been dreaming about this moment for so long and for it to happen here at home, in front of people I've known forever...you guys (media) are going to have to find the words because I don't have the vocabulary for it."

"I've done this plenty of times in my dreams, I'm actually pretty good down the stretch when I'm dreaming. It was just incredible.

"In the playoff I hit a perfect drive and then had a regulation nine iron. I heard the crowd going mad and I said to my caddie that I hope it's close because I don't want a five-footer."

Clark, who had a flawless round including three birdies, just failed to sink a 15-foot birdie putt on the last that would have given him outright victory.

He then had a similar length putt for birdie at the first extra hole, but again watched the ball slide agonisingly wide.

It was a quadruple bogey on the 16th during Saturday's third round, however, which ultimately cost him the tournament.

"I had a chance to birdie 18 and I thought it was in but it just ran out of speed at the end," Clark said.

"In the playoff anything can happen and he played a few good shots. I went out today and tried to forget yesterday, but I was unlucky and some putts didn't go in but it is not the end of the world -- I came second."

Third round leader Jean Hugo fell away in the closing holes with a bogey at the 16th and a double bogey at the 17th, which has been the hardest hole on the course the entire week.

It was a sad end to a strong challenge from the former South African amateur champion who lost his European Tour card at the end of last season.

Hugo's drive at the 16th went left and he was forced to take a penalty drop because of a local environment rule prohibiting him from playing his ball.

That effectively ended his challenge while at the same time Immelman was finishing with a remarkable birdie on the 18th.

"I've got one more shot in the co-sanctioned events (at the Dunhill Championship) to earn my card and I feel I'm playing well again and am in contention," a disappointed Hugo said.

Challenges from the English pair of Justin Rose and Phil Golding as well as Dutchman Rolf Muntz failed to materialise.

Rose carded a one-under 71 for a 10-under-par total along with Muntz while Golding, who played in the final pairing, fell away to seven under with a four over 76.

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