Nelson Mandela Championship - Scott Jamieson steals the show at the inaugural event
The much awaited Nelson Mandela Championship went underway after a delay of two days due to heavy showers. The tournament rules were amended to ensure that it finishes in time.
Although it was reduced to a 36-hole event, the spectators still got to see some marvellous golf.
It was Scotland’s, Scott Jamieson who took the honours at the Royal Durban Golf Club, as he carded a stunning round on Sunday to claim his maiden European Tour title.
“I knew I needed a fast start and was lucky enough to get that,” Jamieson added after he was award with a framed drawing of Mandela.
“It's an honour to win a tournament like this. Getting your name on any European trophy is a fantastic achievement, but it's a bit more special with someone like Nelson”.
Jamieson carded a stunning round of 57 on the final to force a playoff with England’s Steve Webster and Spain’s De la Riva.
The Scott’s 57 will not be counted as a record breaker because of the fact that the course par was reduced to 65. If it has been a par-72 course than this would have been a record breaking score.
Jamieson could not have timed his shots better than anybody on Sunday, he carded a bogey free round of eight-under to force the playoff.
His 57 on Sunday meant that he rose a staggering 67 places up in the leaderboard.
Back nine’s at the Royal Durban Golf Club have been very fruitful and so it proved as the Scott carded five birdies on the back nine.
The playoff took place on the 18th hole and the Spaniard, De La Riva bogeyed whereas the Jamieson and Webster made regulation pars. This meant that the battle is left only between the two British born golfers.
Both of them went back to the 18th hole and this time the Englishman miscued his tee shot whereas Jamieson found fairway once again.
As a result of that miscued tee shot, Steve had to settle for a bogey, however Jamieson’s par meant that he not only won his first ever European Tour title but he is also an early leader in the Race to Dubai standings.
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