Anton Karlsson picked up his maiden European Challenge Tour win after finishing three shots clear in the RAM Cape Town Open, at Royal Cape Golf Club. Picture by GETTY IMAGESnto

ANTON Karlsson came from three shots behind to win his maiden European Challenge Tour title at the RAM Cape Town Open.

The Swede carded a three under par round of 69 for a 14-under par total in difficult scoring conditions at Royal Cape Golf Club.

That was enough to jump ahead of a packed leaderboard and record a one-shot victory over South African Garrick Higgo.

Karlsson maintained the momentum from a bogey-free eight-under par 64 in his third round.

The 26-year-old Upsala GC pro reeled off six birdies in seven holes from the seventh hole to move to the top of the leaderboard, before holding off a late charge from Higgo to secure his first victory on the satellite circuit.

“It was one of the toughest days of golf in my career with the conditions,” said Anton Karlsson. “It feels amazing to come out on top and to play some really good golf.

“My only aim this morning was to go out there and win. I was three shots back and I knew I was playing well after a 64 yesterday.

“It was really windy out there, so I knew I just had to be patient and do my thing.

“The opening holes were playing tough and I ended up in the wrong places,” said the Swede, who has lost his European Tour card twice having successfully come through Qualifying School in 2016 and 2018.

“But I really got it going after that, and from the sixth hole it was probably the best stretch of golf I’ve ever played,” added Karlsson.

“It got a bit exciting at the end. I hit every shot as I intended down the 18th hole, but then raced my putt by a little further than I would have liked.

“But it’s always nice to hole a putt to win.”

Higgo started the day six shots behind overnight leader Daniel van Tonder.

But the 20-year-old recorded the best result of his fledgling Challenge Tour career after a five-under par 67 on Sunday.

Higgo finished in second position on 13-under, three shots clear of Sussex’s Toby Tree, who made the most of his decision to forego a place in the field for the European Tour’s Vic Open.

Instead the former England amateur international travelled to familiar territory in South Africa, and signed off with a 71 to secure a top three result.

Hampshire’s former Amateur Champion Harry Ellis, Lincolnshire’s EuroPro Tour graduate Jordan Wrisdale, and Frenchman Damien Perrier, finished one shot further back in a tie for fourth.

Overnight leader van Tonder settled for seventh place, alongside Allen John and Gloucestershire’s EuroPro Tour graduate Mitch Waite on eight-under.

Karlsson, who had four top 10s in his debut season back in 2016, moved into second position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings with his maiden win.

The runner-up in the 2018 KPMG Trophy is just 85 points behind last week’s Limpopo Championship winner JC Ritchie, with Wilco Nienaber occupying third place after the opening two events.

The Challenge Tour now travels to Fancourt Golf Estate, George, for the Dimension Data Pro-Am, which gets under way from February 13-16. See the entry list here.

•For final results in the RAM Cape Town Open click here.

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Wiltshire’s Ben Stow is looking for a fast start to the 2020 European Tour Challenge Tour season when he tees it up in the new South Africa swing at the Limpopo Championship. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

WILTSHIRE’S Ben Stow is aiming for a winning start to the European Challenge Tour season at this week’s Limpopo Championship.

A Walker Cup winner five years ago, Stow is looking to put the disappointment of narrowly missing out on his 2020 European Tour card behind him.

The European Challenge Tour travels to South Africa for the first time in the Tour’s history, with the co-sanctioned event (January 30-February 2) providing an early opportunity for the Englishman to throw down the gauntlet to his fellow Challenge Tour members.

Stow, who won the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Open Strokeplay Championship in 2014, finished 17th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2019.

That was two spots outside the graduation places, having battled injury during the second half of the season.

The 28-year-old Rushmore Park member has finished in the top 30 in the Race to Mallorca Rankings for three consecutive years.

And with 20 cards available in 2020, up from 15 last year, is confident this can be the year he secures a maiden full season on the European Tour.

“I played consistency all year really,” said Stow. “I think I only missed two cuts all season and had ten top 10s – but managed to finish 17^th on the rankings at the end of the year.

“I think it’s really good the Challenge Tour has 20 cards this season – and it’s a move that’s been popular with the players.

“The Challenge Tour is a really good test of golf and you have to maintain that form over the course of the season, so it seems like a good move.”

With the last three winners of the opening event on the Road to Mallorca going on to secure their European Tour playing rights at the conclusion of the campaign, Stow recognises the importance of a fast start.

The youngest-ever Wiltshire Amateur Champion at 16 in 2008, said: “There is almost a million euros to play for over the next three weeks.

“So it is important to play well over these opening tournaments in South Africa and start to build some momentum.

“That’s something I’ve been able to do well over my career. Spending some time in the off-season with my coach and then trying to come out and hit the ground running.

“I’m very excited and I believe I can do very good things,” said Stow, the South Western Counties 2011 Amateur Champion, who pipped fellow Challenge Tour player Rhys Enoch, at Saunton, that summer.

Stow will get his opening round under way at 11.10 am local time at Euphoria, with play beginning at 6.30am at Koro Creek and Euphoria.

•Follow live scoring here.

Limpopo first leg of South African swing

THE Limpopo Championship is the first of three events in South Africa on the Challenge Tour schedule.

The RAM Cape Town Open takes place from February 6-9, and the Dimension Data Pro-Am is being staged from February 13-16 forming the first three events of the season.

This week’s action will feature 204 players from the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

They are bidding for a lion’s share of the $250,000 prize fund, with the field playing one round at both Euphoria and Koro Creek before the top 60 and ties make it through to the weekend at Euphoria.\

•Hampshire’s Harry Ellis, the 2017 Amtaeur Champion, who had limited starts on the Challenge Tour in 2019, is in the field this week and tees off on the Euphoria Course at 6.30am – which is two hours ahead of GMT.

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