February 15, 2016

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel stormed to a sensational eight-shot triumph at the Tshwane Open on Sunday to claim his 11th career title and second of 2016.

The 31-year-old South African shot a seven-under-par 63 to finish on 16 under and clinch his eighth European Tour win on home soil.

Denmark's Jeff Winther finished second on eight under, with South Africa's Anthony Michael another two shots further back in third.

"In the first three rounds I gave myself so many chances. If I had the stroke I had today, it probably would have been my best tournament ever," said Schwartzel, who was delighted with his putting in the final round at the Pretoria Country Club.

"It's just frustrating when you don't putt very well and you don't convert, and to make the putts when it counts, that's even more satisfying.

"Everything is sort of falling into place. I've worked really hard leading up to this and it's just been feeling good, so everything has got some really good signs, so I'm excited," he told www.europeantour.com.

Schwartzel started the final round with just a one-shot lead but soon moved to 10 under par when he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the second.

Although he dropped a shot at the third, he was still four strokes ahead of nearest challenger Zander Lombard after birdies at the sixth and seventh. An eagle at the ninth helped him reach the turn in 31.

Schwartzel then suffered a second bogey of the day at the 11th, which took him back to 12 under.

But his experience told as another birdie followed at the 12th before a monster 40-foot putt at the 14th took him to 14 under.

Schwartzel saved par at the 15th before another birdie at the 16th to reach 15 under.

A par at the 17th followed before he finished in style with a short birdie putt at the last.

Lombard eventually fell away and hit a final round 74 to finish 12 shots off the pace.

Round 3 - Charl Schwartzel holds one shot advantage heading in to Sunday

February 14, 2016

Charl Schwartzel will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Tshwane Open after a 66 took him to 9 under par overall on Saturday.

The former U.S. Masters champion had three birdies and an eagle in the third round at Pretoria Country Club. His bogey on the last hole was his first dropped shot since the opening round.

Schwartzel won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in November for his first European Tour title in two years.

In Pretoria, he leads from fellow South African Zander Lombard. Two other home players, Haydn Porteous and Anthony Michael, are another two shots back on 6 under.

Englishman Toby Tree is the only non-South African in the top six, tied for fifth on 4 under with Dean Burmester.

Round 2 - Charl Schwartzel charges before storm hits

February 13, 2016

Charl Schwartzel made a charge up the leaderboard at the European Tour's Tshwane Open on Friday, going 6 under in his second round to sit two shots off the lead.

Schwartzel had four birdies and an eagle in his 64 to move to 5 under overall and second behind South African compatriot Anthony Michael.

Michael carded a 1-under 69 to set the clubhouse target before a thunderstorm and then hail forced a suspension in play at Pretoria Country Club.

Daniel Im of the United States (68) and Theunis Spangenberg (71) of South Africa were tied for third on 4 under alongside Haydn Porteous, who won the tour's Joburg Open last month.

Overnight leader Justin Harding appeared to have revived his challenge with a hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 14 after starting with successive bogeys. But he had four more bogeys and a double bogey for a 5-over 75 to slip down to a tie for seventh.

Round 1 - Justin Harding leads with opening 63

February 12, 2016

South Africa’s Justin Harding birdied five of his final eight holes to surge to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round of the European Tour’s Tshwane Open on Thursday.

Harding, who missed the cut in his previous two European Tour tournaments in 2016, carded a seven under-par 63 and is one shot ahead of compatriot Michael Anthony (64).

Home golfer Thesis Spangenberg, who only came through the qualifying tournament on Tuesday to take his place in the field, continued that form with a five under-par 65, despite a double-bogey on the 10th hole.

South African Open champion Brandon Stone carded a disappointing one over-par 71, but at least took bragging rights in his family after father Kevin was four shots worse off following his opening round.

It is not the first time the Stones have gone head-to-head on the European Tour, they also played in the Joburg Open last season.

Scores