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 we
ek 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.
