SPIETH REACHES CAREER HIGH OF WORLD NO. 6
Week 11

Jordan Spieth sunk a 30-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole to win the Valspar Championship in a dramatic three-man play-off to reach World No .6 for the first time in his career.

South African Coetzee put home advantage to full use to win his second European Tour title, carding a flawless final round of 65 to finish one shot ahead of compatriot Jacques Blaauw

Peter Malnati won the Brazil Champions on Sunday for second Web.com Tour title, birdieing the final three holes for a 5-under 66 and a four-stroke victory.

16TH MARCH 2015 | 09:47 AM

PGA Tour - Valspar Championship

Jordan Spieth sunk a 30-foot birdie putt at the third extra hole to win the Valspar Championship in a dramatic three-man play-off to reach World No .6 for the first time in his career.

Spieth outgunned Sean O'Hair and Ryder Cup team-mate Patrick Reed with a lengthy gain at the 17th to secure his second PGA Tour title, after the trio had finished 10-under for the tournament.

Opening the play-off at the 18th, the American saw a 10-foot birdie putt for victory pull just wide of the hole, while Reed produced a world-class par-save by getting the ball out from under the lip of the bunker before putting from 15-feet.

The play-off looked set to continue when Reed and O'Hair both completed the 17th in par, but Spieth's monster putt from the left-hand side of the green rolled in to give the 21-year-old his first success since the 2013 John Deere classic.

“It was a crazy back nine being three down with six to play,” Spieth said. “That was the best Michael (Greller, his caddie) and I have done together.

“That putt (to win) was just luck. If that doesn’t hit the hole I’ve got a four-foot slider, but I guess it was my day.”

Sunshine / European Tour - Tshwane Open

George Coetzee returned to the scene of his first golfing triumph to claim the Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club.

South African Coetzee put home advantage to full use to win his second European Tour title, carding a flawless final round of 65 to finish one shot ahead of compatriot Jacques Blaauw at the course where he has been a member since taking up the game and where he won his first junior competition aged ten.

Blaauw had charged through the field with a stunning closing 61 to equal the course record and set the clubhouse target at 13 under par, with the final groups still having nine holes to play.

However, Coetzee - who was one of six players sharing the lead overnight - was just one behind after finishing his front nine with three birdies in four holes and picked up further shots on the back nine to seal victory.

The decisive moment came on the 17th after Coetzee had tried to drive the green on the short par four.

His tee shot came up in the trees short and right of the green but with a clear path between two bunkers the World Number 87 took full advantage, chipping to five feet and holing for a birdie to take a one shot lead down the last.

“To win at your own club in front of all your friends and family – the crowds were amazing, I could just feel the momentum building and the crowd getting bigger and bigger towards the end. It’s a great experience and a very special day for me,” said Coetzee, whose previous European Tour win also came on home soil at last year’s Joburg Open.


Web.com – Brasil Champions presented by HSBC

Peter Malnati won the Brazil Champions on Sunday for second Web.com Tour title, birdieing the final three holes for a 5-under 66 and a four-stroke victory.

Malnati finished at 22-under 262 at Sao Paulo Golf Club. He earned $153,000 to jump from 88th to seconds on the money list, putting him in position to earn a PGA Tour card.

''This is a big win. This is a big event. That's the best kind of stress ever,'' said Malnati, whose wife, Alicia, caddied for him. ''That's so much fun, but it really is stressful. I don't know the math but this is one of our biggest purses and it doesn't guarantee me of anything, it does help a lot to get me back to the PGA Tour and that's been my goal from the start.''


PGA Tour of Australia – BMW New Zealand Open

New South Welshman Jordan Zunic has won the BMW New Zealand Open in Queenstown.

The 23-year-old rookie clinched a one shot victory over Victorian David Bransdon, with a stunning shot into the final hole in perfect conditions at The Hills.

Needing a birdie at 18 to avoid a playoff, Zunic hit a superb approach shot to just two feet, calmly tapping in the putt to finish at 21-under 266.

That was enough to relegate Bransdon to outright second at 20-under the card, a bogey at the last proving costly while fellow Victorian Kristopher Mueck was third at 18-under the card.

"When I hit it, it felt perfect and I just thought as long as the distance is right this should be pretty good. Obviously when it landed I was very happy," said Zunic.

"I knew I was playing well, but playing well and winning are two different things and I'm over the moon."

It completes an incredible comeback for Zunic, who only turned Pro in January despite failing to earn his PGA Tour of Australasia card at Qualifying School.


Asian Development Tour – PGM Terengganu Championship

Thailand’s Panuwat Muenlek secured his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) victory after closing with a three-under-par 68 to win by three shots at the PGM Terengganu Championship on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Thai, who held a share of the overnight lead, fired six birdies against three bogeys to claim his first professional victory outside of Thailand on 11-under-par 273 total at the RM200,000 (approximately US$55,400) event.

Overnight co-leader Atthaphon Sriboonkaew, also of Thailand, battled to a 71 to share second place with countryman Itthipat Buranatanyarat, who carded a 68, at the Resorts World Kijal.

Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing (67) and Finland’s Janne Kaske (68) shared fourth place on 277 while American Shane Smith and Masaru Takahashi of Japan took sixth and seventh place respectively after returning with matching 71s at the RM200,000 (approximately US$55,400) event.

Defending champion Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand settled for a share of 31st place on 289 after closing with a 71.

Panuwat endured a slow start to the round but bounced back with a sensational back nine where he picked up a birdie on the 12th and nailed four more birdies in his last five holes.

“I’m thrilled. I didn’t play well on my front nine. I had a few misses and I felt uncomfortable but I told myself to move on and not think too much out there. My putting got better on the back nine and I was able to score,” said the slightly-built Thai, who pocketed US$9,459 and received six Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points courtesy of his win.

“I only started to feel nervous heading into the last few holes. Atthaphon is like a brother to me and we practise a lot together. I was very happy to be playing in the last group with him. I am sure this win will give me more confidence in my game. I will try and aim for a few more wins this season to finish top-five on the Merit rankings,” added Panuwat.

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