Golf: Ramsay top of the Scots

Published on Sunday 21 December 2008 22:01

RICHIE Ramsay led the Scots in the South African Open after the closing round at the Pearl Valley estate in Paarl yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who had missed the cut in his first two events of the new campaign, signed off with a four-under 68 for a seven-under 281 and shared 26th spot, seven shots behind host nation winner Richard Sterne who claimed his second title in a week after a play-off.

Sterne, who won the Alfred Dunhill championship the previous weekend, pipped Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin to the 147,000 top prize at the first extra hole after both players had finished with 14-under 274s.

Aberdonian Ramsay, 25, pocketed around 8600. Tulliallan rookie Callum Macaulay closed with a 69 for a five-under 283 and shared 34th place with Dunbar's David Drysdale which earned the Scots duo 7150 each. Alan McLean tied for 57th on 287 after a 71 while former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart, 22nd at the start of the final day, slumped to a 79 and toppled down the field with a 289.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Lam Chih Bing held his nerve in a tense final round to shoot a five-under 67 and win the Volvo Masters of Asia. Lam carded five birdies on a blemish-free round to finish 14 under par, two strokes ahead of Thai Chapchai Nirat, with Australian Terry Pilkadaris third on 11 under.