Tim Clark gains second South African Open title

Local favourite Tim Clark won the South African Open for the second time in three years on Sunday when he carded a final round 66 for a total of 15-under-par 273.

The 29-year-old South African finished six shots ahead of compatriot Charl Schwartzel and France's Gregory Havret, who returned rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Clark started the day in a four-way tie for the lead alongside fellow South Africans Titch Moore, Tjaart Van Der Walt and Hendrik Buhrmann.

Birdies at the third and the fifth took him clear on his own and he stretched his advantage by picking up further shots on the 10th, 14th and 17th, while a 12-foot birdie putt at 18 was just the icing on the cake.

His last bogey came at the ninth on Friday as he went two and a half rounds without dropping a shot.

Local boy Clark won the title here in 2002 and lost a play-off the following year to Trevor Immelman. He usually plays his golf on the PGA Tour in America - where he won more than $1million last season - but his decision to return for his home Open paid a handsome dividend.

"I certainly didn't think I would win by six shots," Clark told Sky Sports. I felt someone would put in a low number, but it was nice to have the cushion coming down the closing holes.

"I played very solid. I just made very few mistakes and made some nice birdies on the back nine. It's awesome to win two South African Opens - now my biggest goal is to win in the States."

France's Gregory Havret shot a three-under-par 69 to join South African Charl Schwartzel in a share for second on nine-under par.

But Moore and Van Der Walt fell away to finish in a tie for eighth after rounds of 74, while Buhrmann shot a 75.

Pre-tournament favourite Darren Clarke had a second successive 67 to finish in the group on eight-under, but rounds of 72 and 74 on the opening two days gave even him too much to do on the weekend.

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