Oosthuizen storms back to win Volvo Golf Champions

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) –

Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa pictured in Haikou, Hainan Island on November 26, 2011, stormed back in the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club to shoot a six-under-par 66 and win the title by one stroke.

South African Louis Oosthuizen stormed back in the final round of the Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club Sunday to shoot a six-under-par 66 and win the title by one stroke.

Oosthuizen entered the final round five shots adrift of Scott Jamieson from Scotland, who finished second after a final-hole chip to force a play-off came agonisingly close to dropping.

Former paratrooper Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand ended third a further shot behind, Irishman Padraig Harrington was fourth and Julien Quesne of France and Englishman Danny Willett shared fifth spot.

Oosthuizen posted rounds of 68, 64, 74 and 66 for a 16-under-par total of 272 and succeeded compatriot Branden Grace as winner of the opening European Tour event this year.

It was the sixth success on the European circut for the 2010 British Open champion and victory in perfect summer conditions lifted him two places to fourth on the world rankings.

The 30-year-old from Mossel Bay in the western Cape birdied four holes on the front nine and another three coming back before dropping a stroke on the par-four 16th, where he misread and pushed a short putt.

Pars at the final two holes seemed to have sealed success in the two million euro ($1.3 million) tournament as Jamieson battled to create final-day birdie opportunities while chasing a second win in Durban within two months.

But the 29-year-old Glasgow-born winner of the Nelson Mandela Championship in this Indian Ocean city during December almost snatched a last-hole eagle as his chipped second shot halted millimetres from the pin.