FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-17 L Oosthuizen (SA) -14 R Finch (Eng), P Whiteford (Sco) -12 R Coles (Eng) F Molinari (Ita) Selected others: -11 J Donaldson (Wal), G Canizares (Spa)
-10 S Gallacher (Sco), S Hutsby (Eng) -9 D Howell (Eng) -6 G Orr (Sco) -2 P McGinley (Ire) -1 D Clarke (NI)

Oosthuizen has been a runner-up four times on the Tour

Louis Oosthuizen won his first European Tour event with a three-stroke victory at the Andalucia Open in Malaga.

The 27-year-old South African, who had led by one shot overnight, hit a final-round 63 for a 17-under winning total.

England's Richard Finch (67) and Scotland's Peter Whiteford (66) tied for second at the Parador de Malaga.

Another Englishman, Robert Coles, who had started the day only a shot behind the leader, was another two shots back in joint third with Francesco Molinari.

Oosthuizen's victory catapults him into the world's top 50 and secures him a second successive trip to Augusta for the Masters, which starts in two weeks.

"Unbelievable - that was my goal two months ago," said Oosthuizen, who recorded his fourth runners-up finish at the Hassan II Trophy last week in Morocco.

"I was quite nervous down the stretch and very nervous on the 18th tee. I just decided to hit it as hard as I could.

"I knew I was good enough to win one, now I want to stay in the top 50."

Three birdies in the first five holes, gave Oosthuizen breathing space, but a three-putt bogey on seven opened the door for the chasing pack

Whiteford, who picked up five shots in eight holes around the turn, looked most likely to challenge.

He had a chance to move only one behind on the 14th, but he missed a 12-foot birdie putt and three-putted the 15th for bogey.

Whiteford, who came into the tournament 291st in the world, had found a driver he liked at the start of the week and said after his 66: "I thought I had it sussed.

"Then I discovered it missing before I went to practice and the one I had to use for the last two days was rubbish. I'll get a replacement now."

Oosthuizen meanwhile, picked up a shot at the 14th, meaning he could afford a bogey on 16 as he wrapped up the title.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version