Atwal finishes tied-26th
in SA Open

Arjun Atwal, playing his first season on the European PGA Tour as a regular member, finished tied for the 26th place in the South African Open, the year-opening tournament on the European PGA Tour, which concluded at The Country Club in Durban, South Africa, on Sunday.

Atwal shot a two-under 70 on the final day to aggregate five-under 283.

The other Indians in fray, Jeev Milkha Singh and Amandeep Johl tied for the 39th place after tallying three-under 285 for the four rounds. Jeev shot a disappointing one-over 73 on the final day, while Johl returned his third successive one-under 71.

Atwal could have finished much higher after being four-under for the day with birdies on the eighth, 10th, 13th and 15th holes. However, an unfortunate double bogey on the par-4 16th saw him finish the day at two-under 70. Atwal was richer by 7,444 euros.

Jeev made four birdies in his last six holes to make up for a horrendous front nine which saw him make three bogies and a double on the sixth.

Johl made a double bogey on the fifth hole but was in good form on the back nine for which he was two-under despite a bogey on the 17th.

Tim Clark, who began the week by winning the pre-qualifying competition to earn a place in the field, ended it even more impressively by claiming the title with a closing round of 65 for a 19 under par total of 269. Clark earned 1,28,052 euros.

Clark, 26, born and bred in Natal, received considerable vocal encouragement from his family and friends in his home town as he played some wonderfully controlled golf to edge out England's Steve Webster by two strokes.

Another Englishman, Jonathan Lomas, shared third place with South African James Kingston on 275. Ernie Els tied 13 at nine-under 279.

RESULTS: 269 _ Tim Clark (SA) 66 70 68 65; 271 _ Steve Webster (Eng) 68 70 69 64; 275 _ David Park (Wal) 71 68 73 64, James Kingston (SA) 66 67 74 68, Jonathan Lomas (Eng) 68 67 71 69; 276 _ Simon Dyson (Eng) 67 73 69 67, Alastair Forsyth (Scot) 66 71 70 69, Retief Goosen (SA) 67 70 69 70, 277 _ Doug McGuigan (Sco) 71 69 71 66, Martin Maritz (SA) 72 64 72 69, Roger Wessels (SA) 68 71 68 70