Branden Grace with the South African Open trophy after his stunning 62 – matching the lowest-ever round in Major Championship he produed at Royal Birkdale three years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BRANDEN Grace produced a masterful putting display in a closing 62 in his national open to complete the South African Slam at Randpark Golf Club.

Grace’s ninth European Tour victory in the South African Open was his first since his Rolex Series triumph at the 2017 Nedbank Golf.

The win sees him complete the “South African Slam” after winning the Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dimension Data Pro-Am.

The home duo could not be separated at the turn as they put on a stunning show, with Oosthuizen sending the huge crowds at Johannesburg’s Randpark into raptures with a hole-in-one at the eighth.

But Grace put his foot down on the way home, taking his tally of putts to just 22 as he finished at 21-under, three shots clear of Oosthuizen.

The victory secured Grace a place at this summer’s Open Championship, where he will be joined by fellow qualifiers Marcus Armitage and Jaco Ahlers.

Yorkshire-based pro Armitage birdied the last to finish at 16-under and secure his spot at Royal St George’s Golf Club, with home favourite Ahlers a shot behind alongside Jack Senior, who was edged out for The Open spot by virtue of being eight places lower than Ahlers on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Grace finished 113th on last season’s Race to Dubai after being in the top 10 for four of the previous seven seasons.

But he showed a return to form at last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship with a tie for third.

“That was remarkable,” said Grace. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

Grace bogeyed the second but hit back brilliantly, making a gain on the third, before eagling the fourth from 25 feet.

The first player to shoot 62 in a Major at Royal Birkdale in the The 2017 Open, made another birdie on the fifth.

The 31-year-old was in a tie for the lead when Armitage three-putted the sixth.

And Grace hit the front with a 15-foot right-to-left putt on the seventh.

An excellent up-and-down at the eighth kept him in front, but Branden was soon leapfrogged by Oosthuizen as the 2010 Open Champion produced the shot of the week.

After seven straight pars, his tee shot looked to be heading right and towards the water.

But it took a big hop left off the fringe and rolled into the cup for an ace.

Grace responded with a 25-foot birdie on the ninth and he edged back in front on his own after a stunning recovery from the rough on the 11th.

Armitage just loves Randpark – here’s why

A wonderful approach brought Oosthuizen level on the same hole but Grace found another gear.

He sandwiched a birdie from 12 feet on the 13th with a birdie four at the 12th and a three at the 14th to open up a three-shot lead to complete his South African Slam.

Armitage’s birdie on the last for a 69, then saw his 11-under total matched by Ahlers, while Senior went two better.

But the Fleetwood GC member missed out on a spot at The 148^th Open by virtue of being spots lower on the Official World Golf Rankings.

•To see the final scores at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg click here.

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One to go for. Pictured at Skipton Golf Club at the announcement of the Skipton Volkswagen sponsorship deal are, from left, Rabbits section captain Roger Moore, Skipton VW sales executive Georgia Tallant, section members Jim Fox, Phil Lawler and Ross Adley, and the club’s business manager, Simon Bradley.

A brand-new VW car will be driven off by one on-the-ball golfer who’s skilled – or lucky enough! – to bag a hole in one at a competition at Skipton Golf Club.

The car is the star prize in a four-ball better-ball stableford competition to be staged as part of the club’s annual open day on Sunday, July 14, which is organised by the Rabbits section. The chance to win it comes courtesy of Cross Hills-based Skipton Volkswagen.

The hole in one competition will be limited to 50 entrants with a maximum 28 handicap and 90% handicap allowance. It will take place on the 138 yard par 3 12^th hole, itself sponsored by another Cross Hills company, T.B. Construction.

The sponsorship deal was teed up by Rabbits section captain Roger Moore. It also includes sponsored shirts for section members.

Open day cash prizes will also be up for grabs for holes in one at any of the other par 3s at Skipton. Online bookings for the competition can be made at www.skiptongolfclub.co.uk

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Seven year old Eddie Claughton from Oulton Hall is the Eagle Ace at Leeds Golf Centre

A seven-year-old junior golfer at Oulton Hall is celebrating after scoring his first hole-in-one … at a different course.

Eddie Claughton, a pupil at Swillington Primary School, is one of around 150 juniors taught weekly at Oulton Hall by coach Thomas Devine. And the tuition clearly paid dividends when he visited Leeds Golf Centre to play the 12-hole Oaks Course, holing out with his tee-shot on the 123-yard third.

Eddie, who has been playing golf at Oulton Hall for three years, won a set of custom-fitted golf clubs last year as a result of his performances in various events across Yorkshire. And, this year, he’s started playing with his father Peter, a three-handicapper, and has completed his first two 18-hole rounds.

Dad Peter explained: “On the Oaks he hit driver and it bounced and rolled on up into the hole. He was delighted. He doesn’t have an official handicap yet, but plays off 12 in the Tiger Cubs at Wike. He’s a big fan of European Tour pro Eddie Pepperell and just really enjoys playing golf.

“We play together occasionally now, which is great, really good father-and-son time.”

Devine, who is the director of Oulton Hall’s FUEL golf (FUture ELite) programme, added: “It really is quite an achievement to get a hole in one at seven-years-old. Congratulations to him. He’s got a bubbly character and always plays with a smile on his face. For me, that’s so important at a young age if we want to keep children in the game for life.”

Oulton Hall, near Leeds, features 27 holes designed by leading golf course architect Dave Thomas and outstanding practice facilities, boasting the north of England’s leading golf performance centre.

Along with Oulton Hall’s renowned golf academy, the top venue offers a range of other facilities aimed at fine-tuning your swing, while the Claret Jug course restaurant is the ideal place to re-energise after a long day on the course. Its unique 18th-century former family mansion is the perfect choice for a hotel, with landscaped gardens, sweeping spiral staircases and a state-of-the-art spa.

www.oultonhallhotel.co.uk

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