NEWS

Branden Grace pulls away for seven-stroke win at Dunhill Championship

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MALELANE, South Africa -- Branden Grace held his nerve while others faltered Sunday, pulling away for a commanding seven-shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Grace started the day with a one-shot advantage over Lucas Bjerregaard, but quickly widened the gap when the Dane had a bogey on the first and Grace birdied the second.

Bjerregaard fell away badly thereafter to card a 17-over 89, while Grace finished with a 4-under 68 and a 20-under total of 268 for the event. It was the 26-year-old South African's fifth victory on the European Tour, and he became the first person to lead after all four rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

"It's special to win it wire-to-wire, more so because it's in front of a local crowd," Grace said. "It was a pretty flawless round today and the perfect way to finish off an incredible tournament - a great week in the office."

Fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen shot a 69 to finish second, while Trevor Fisher Jr., Andrew Johnston and Danny Willett were three shots further back in third.

Willett was two shots behind Grace going into the final round but only managed a 76 after finishing with a double bogey on the 16th, bogey on 17 and a triple bogey on 18. Francesco Molinari was fourth overnight but also shot a 76 to drop to a tie for sixth, 11 shots behind the winner.

Grace mixed six birdies with two bogeys and never looked threatened, finishing with a birdie on No. 18.

Bjerregaard unraveled after a triple bogey on the par-3 seventh hole where he landed in the water. He needed 50 shots on the back nine, which included a quadruple bogey on the par-4 11th, two double bogeys and five bogeys.