Golf: Top 10s for Forsyth and Lee as Oosthuizen retains Africa title

SCOTTISH duo Alastair Forsyth and Craig Lee both started the new season with top-10 finishes as former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen made a successful defence of his Africa Open title at East London Golf Club.

Helped by a 35-foot birdie putt at the penultimate hole, Oosthuizen signed off with a six-under-par 67 to finish two shots ahead of fellow South African Tjaart Van Der Walt, with another home player, Retief Goosen, a shot further back in third.

Forsyth, who dropped his only shot of the day at the 18th, matched the winner’s closing effort to finish fifth on 270, while Lee marked his return to the European Tour by claiming a share of eighth spot after a 71 for 274.

“I’m delighted with the start to the season and how I played this week,” said Forsyth, a two-time Tour winner but playing for the second successive year without full playing privileges after losing his card at the end of 2010, then finishing 140th in last year’s Race to Dubai.

“It’s the most consistent I’ve played in a long time right through the bag. I’ve got a new Odyssey putter in the bag and it worked very well.”

Five behind Oosthuizen at the start of play, Forsyth covered his opening six holes in five-under, moving to 21-under for the tournament. Despite picking up two more birdies – at the 13th and 16th – the 35-year-old couldn’t quite get within striking distance of the leaders in a low-scoring tournament.

“It was a strange week due to the scoring being so low,” admitted Forsyth, who picked up a cheque for just over £34,000 after making his best start to a season for eight years.

“I felt more confident with my game as the week went on, so hopefully that will continue through the season,” he added. “It’s only one week, so I can’t get carried away, but it’s great to play so well in the first event of the year and if I keep playing like that I’ll get my card back for sure.”

Four seasons ago, Lee’s best finish on the European Tour was a tie for 17th in the Russian Open. He finished 186th on the money list with earnings of just over £50,000. In his first event back on the top circuit after graduating from the Challenge Tour last season, he picked up a cheque for around £19,000.

“I’m happy with my first week’s work,” said the 34-year-old from Stirling. “It’s nice to see the winter work in Spain, where I rented an apartment at Hacienda Riquelme and worked mainly on my short game with loads of putting drills, paying off.”

Like Forsyth, Lee is staying on in South Africa for this week’s Joburg Open and added: “I’ve still got room for improvement, but overall I’m happy with this week.”

David Drysdale fired a closing 67 to squeeze into the top 20 at 15-under, four better than Steven O’Hara, who posted a final-round 71 to share 47th, while South Africa-based Scot Alan McLean was tied 54th following his 73.

Oosthuizen birdied the par-3 17th, Van der Walt making bogey at the same hole, to settle the tussle between the two South Africans.

“It was a real dogfight for most of the day,” said Oosthuizen of his fourth European Tour victory and one that earned him around £130,000.

“I remember watching Tjaart when I was an amateur, and it was just great seeing him play to his potential today.

“He played really well. He’s one of those who won’t go away. He’s not going to mess it up – he’s too consistent for that.”