Kaymer Takes Nedbank Golf Challenge


Though it wasn't a full-field pro tour event, Martin Kaymer logged his first victory of the year Sunday. The 27-year-old closed with a 3-under 69 on the tough Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Kaymer, whose last win came in November 2011 at the WGC-HSBC Champions, totaled 8-under 280 over 72 holes, two strokes ahead of gallery favorite, Charl Schwartzel. The 2011 Masters champion from South Africa also shot a 69.

Schwartzel had a chance to put pressure on the leader down the stretch, but bogeyed the 17th hole after coming to within a stroke of Kaymer. "It was always tight," Kaymer - who earned $1.25 million - later told reporters. "Charl played a great round of golf. I was telling (my caddie) I need a win. I need a win in 2012."

As it has through all four rounds, the Gary Player course was difficult for the 12-man field. "It was really tough out there. The course played long but I'm doing a lot better every year here," Schwartzel told a TV reporter. "I gave it a good shot, I just came up short at the end."

Finishing third at 3-under 285 was American Bill Haas (71), while another stroke back was South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen (74). Defending champion Lee Westwood took fifth at 1-under 287 following a 73, and Scotland's Paul Lawrie ended up in sixth at 289 after a 74.

Italy's Francesco Molinari and Swede Carl Pettersson both shot 69s to share seventh at 291, while the rest of the field included Swede Peter Hanson (73 - 291), Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts (71 - 293), Brit Justin Rose (74 - 295) and Garth Mulroy (74 - 297) of South Africa.

For all the scores, visit http://www.nedbankgolfchallenge.com/leaderboard.aspx.