Date: December 17, 2007
Author:

Norman just off the pace

Home favourite James Kingston was eventually crowned South African Airways Open champion on Sunday after a rain-drenched final round in Paarl as Greg Norman finished the tournament just four strokes adrift of the winner. On a day where play was suspended for nearly four hours after persistent rain overnight, theentire field struggled on a course that was near unplayable. When the players did get back Kingston managed to maintain his composure, shooting a final-round 71 for an overall score of four under par, one better than round three leader Oliver Wilson. Playing together on the final day, the Englishman got off to the worst possible start with a bogey on the par-four first, and he never recovered. Dropped strokes followed on the sixth and the ninth holes and despite pulling back with two birdies on the 10th and 11th, it was too late as he eventually finished with a 73. Northern Ireland&aposs Darren Clarke adapted well in weather not dissimilar to Belfast, finishing two shots back on one under par after an excellent final-round 68 – one of the rounds of the day. Three other players were tied with Clarke including South Africa&aposs Garth Mulroy and Louis Oosthuizen as well as Welshman Kyron Sullivan. Norman, meanwhile, capped an impressive week by finishing in tied seventh, level par for the championship, while defending champion Ernie Els also finished strongly with a final-round 69, enough for joint 16th place.