Van der Walt claims emotional win at Nelson Mandela Championship

 

December 14, 2013 11:40 AM

(Reuters) - An eagle and two birdies in the closing stretch allowed South African Dawie van der Walt to shoot a 66 and secure an emotional two shot victory at the curtailed Nelson Mandela Championship on Saturday.

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Van der Walt achieved his win just a day before former South African president Mandela, who died last week aged 95, is laid to rest.

"It's obviously really special, making you a part of history," Van der Walt said.

"Winning The Nelson Mandela at this time, when it's sad for everyone, everyone is mourning and tomorrow's the big day, it means a lot and it's something I can keep close to my heart forever."

Van der Walt carded four under par 66 on Saturday at the tournament reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather earlier in the week. The event also concluded a day earlier than usual so that it avoided clashing with Mandela's funeral.

Van der Walt finished ahead of Spain's Jorge Campillo and England's Matthew Baldwin, who both carded two under par 68s.

Daniel Brooks relinquished his overnight lead following an abysmal start and struggled to a six over par 76 finish.

Having not dropped a shot in his opening two rounds, Brooks succumbed to four bogies and a double bogie in his front nine on Saturday to slide down the leaderboard.

Saturday's win was a welcome return to form for Van der Walt, who claimed his second win on the European Tour this year following his success at the Tshwane Open.

"I haven't been in that good form, I had an injury and have been struggling, so this is almost overwhelming. It almost felt like I have been at the top of my game and then hit rock bottom this year, so to win the last event of the year will make Christmas a lot more fun," he said.

(Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Jimmy V golf event ending after 20 years

December 14, 2013 3:30 PMAP - Sports

CARY, N.C. (AP) -- The golf tournament developed to honor the late Jim Valvano's efforts to fight cancer is coming to an end after 20 years.

Organizers with The V Foundation announced in a statement that they are giving up the tournament to focus local efforts elsewhere, including a new partnership with the Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Marathon. The foundation says it is looking for runners to join its charitable team in the marathon, scheduled for April 13.

In its 20 years, the golf weekend drew about 500,000 spectators and raised about $13.5 million for cancer research.

Foundation spokeswoman Sherrie Mazur said the golf event was run by a staff of three, separate from the foundation. She says it's unclear if those staffers would remain with the foundation.

Reno man gets probation for golf course shooting

By MARTIN GRIFFITH (Associated Press)December 14, 2013 4:54 PMAP - Sports

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A Reno man has been placed on probation and fined $1,000 for shooting a golfer whose errant ball broke a bedroom window at his home.

Jeff Fleming, 53, was put on probation for up to five years in Washoe County District Court. He had faced as much as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine after he earlier pleaded guilty to a felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon.

The unidentified golfer who struck Fleming's house took a drop and was attempting to play his next shot on the Lakeridge Golf Course in September 2012 when Fleming fired a shotgun at him. The golfer, who was playing with a friend, was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to an arm and both legs.

Fleming's attorney, Larry Dunn, said Friday his client was just waking up when the stray golf ball shattered his bedroom window and sprayed him with glass shards. Fleming shot at the golfer from some 50 yards away in an attempt to scare him, not injure him, Dunn said.

The ball ''came crashing through the bedroom window and it startled him, and he thought he was being shot at,'' Dunn told The Associated Press. ''He anticipated the ball coming through might have been intentional, and thought there was potential harm.

''There's no question the single shot he fired was a warning or to scare him. There was no intention to hit him,'' he added.

Police said the golfer and his partner ran away after the shot was fired, and it wasn't until they were safe that the golfer realized he had been hit. One or two shotgun pellets had to be removed from his body at the hospital.

Fleming expressed remorse, telling the judge Thursday he was shocked at his own behavior.

While his house is located along the golf course, Dunn said, it was the first time it had been hit by a golf ball in the 10 years he has lived there. The house is positioned away from the flight path of golf balls, he said.

The area around the 16th hole was evacuated after the shooting. Fleming drove to Dunn's office, where he surrendered without incident.

Fleming had no previous criminal record.

''He's an outstanding citizen and it (shooting) is just an aberration,'' Dunn said.

Kuchar and English leading by 4 shots at Shootout

December 14, 2013 5:39 PMAP - Sports

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NAPLES, Fla. (AP) -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English took a four-stroke lead Saturday in the Franklin Templeton Shootout, playing the back nine in 9-under 27 in the better-ball round for a 12-under 60.

Kuchar and English were 20 under the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort's Tiburon course. They opened with a 64 on Friday in modified alternate-shot play. The team event ends Sunday with a scramble.

Retief Goosen and Fredrik Jacobson were second after a 61.

The teams of Ian Poulter-Lee Westwood and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard were tied for third at 13 under. Poulter and Westwood shot 61, and Howell and Leonard had a 67.

Kuchar and English had nine birdies and an eagle on Nos. 8-17.

''It's pretty cool,'' English said. ''You just kind of get on a hot streak and you don't really think about anything other than making birdies.

They had a chance for a 59, but Kuchar's 14-foot putt on 18 missed to the left.

Goosen and Jacobson had five straight birdies on Nos. 3-7 and row in a row on Nos. 14-17..

''Overall, not too bad, but yeah, four shots behind tomorrow, we need something really low,'' Goosen said.

Stewart and Connor Cink lead Father/Son Challenge

December 14, 2013 5:52 PMAP - Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Stewart Cink and son Connor birdied three of the last five holes Saturday for an 11-under 61 and a one-stroke lead in the Father/Son Challenge.

Stewart Cink made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final at Grande Lakes in the scramble event.

''We were a really good team out there,'' Stewart Cink said. ''We had fun and fed off each other. This was a good time for us to spend together and it turned out today was a really good day of chemistry.''

Steve and Sam Elkington were second.

Jack and Gary Nicklaus shot 63. The 73-year-old Jack Nickaus made a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 18.

''I helped (on) a hole!'' Nicklaus said.

Defending champions Davis Love III and son Dru were another shot after a 64, tied with Vijay and Qass Singh, Hale and Steve Irwin and David Duval and stepson Dean Karavites.