BMW SA Open report: Chris Paisley claims first title

Day four report

England's Chris Paisley overcame an early charge from home favourite Branden Grace to claim his first European Tour title in the BMW SA Open.

Paisley carded a flawless closing 66 at Glendower Country Club in Johannesburg to finish 21 under par, three shots ahead of Grace.

Grace started the final round a shot behind Paisley, but birdied the opening hole and holed from 15 feet for eagle on the second to jump into the lead.

However, the 29-year-old South African then ran up a double bogey on the sixth after failing to get out of a greenside bunker at the first attempt and Paisley, who had birdied the second and fourth, picked up another shot on the seventh to move three clear.

The 31-year-old from Hexham, whose wife Keri was standing in for his regular caddie, also birdied the 10th to increase his lead and Grace's chances effectively disappeared when he found water off the tee on the 12th.

Grace, who became the first man to shoot 62 in a major in last year's Open Championship, bounced back in style with an eagle from three feet on the par-five 13th, but playing partner Paisley birdied the same hole and also matched Grace's birdie on the 15th.

South Africa's JC Ritchie, who lipped out for an albatross on the 15th in a closing 65, finished two shots behind Grace in third.

Day three report

Branden Grace made five birdies in eight holes to end the third round of the BMW SA Open just one back of leader Chris Paisley and odds-on favourite with Sky Bet.

Grace, seeking to win his national open for the first time, had fallen six adrift with a bogey at the ninth hole as 31-year-old Paisley cruised into a clear lead.

But a birdie at the 11th hole, followed by four more over the closing stages, saw tournament favourite Grace close to within one of the Englishman thanks to a third-round 66.

"I got frustrated out there to be quite honest," Grace admitted. "I thought I hit the ball superbly through 13 holes, but just couldn't get it in the hole.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow big time. I've played myself right back into it and I'm really excited going into tomorrow. It will be a big advantage to have that (home) support."

Paisley remains the man to catch at 15-under but a late bogey in a round of 70 allowed Grace to close in and the packed galleries at Glendower will expect their man to get the job done on Sunday, just as he did before Christmas at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

"Being tied for the lead isn't a position I've been in a lot," Paisley said after a round containing three birdies and a solitary bogey on the 16th.

"I'm really proud with how I've played, I felt really calm and never really felt stressed.

"Obviously playing with Gracie (in the final round), who's won God knows how many times on Tour and obviously is a great player, and in his home country.... I'm sure the crowd is going to be on his side. I'm just really excited about it."

Chase Koepka, Jacques Blaauw and Adrien Saddier share third, two behind Grace and three off the lead, with Darren Fichardt alone in sixth after a best-of-the-day 64.

Our 125/1 tip Richard Bland is two back of Fichardt after making strong progress on Saturday but it's all eyes on Grace ahead of what promises to be a dramatic final round.

Day two report

Branden Grace was upstaged by Chris Paisley and Adrien Saddier on day two of the BMW SA Open at Glendower.

The South African bogeyed his final hole in a frustrating round of 71 to post the clubhouse lead on eight-under, which was swept aside by Paisley and Saddier in the afternoon session.

Hexham's Paisley birdied four of his final five holes in a 65 to add to Thursday's 66 and reach 13-under, good enough for a four-shot lead until late fireworks from Saddier.

The 25-year-old Frenchman finished birdie, eagle, birdie to leap out of the chasing pack and will look for a better weekend than that which he produced in Joburg prior to Christmas, when falling from eighth to a place outside the top 50.

Paisley boasts the stronger top-flight form having been third in the Made In Denmark last summer and appeared in relaxed mood with wife Keri on the bag.

He made eight birdies in total, a solid blemish coming at the par-five 13th which was quickly forgotten as he got the shot back on the next before a sublime finish to the round.

Paisley said: "I actually didn't feel like I played as well (on Friday) as (Thursday), especially off the tee, but I holed a lot of good putts and hit a few wedge shots really close.

"I tried to be attacking, not crazy but just trying to do the same things as I did (on Thursday). It's quite easy after a good round to maybe be a bit more defensive and protect your position a bit but I've made that mistake a few times so I was determined not to do that and went out and tried to hit the shots and keep to my game plan.

"I can't wait for the weekend. I've never been in this position before so I've got to play, do my best and see what happens."

Grace sits in a share of fourth alongside two-time SA Open champion, Retief Goosen, who double-bogeyed the 18th hole in an otherwise exceptional 67.

Completing that quartet are Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent and Chase Koepka, younger brother of US Open champion Brooks.

Day one report

Tournament favourite Branden Grace got off to an ideal start in the BMW SA Open at Glendower.

Grace, who won the Nedbank Golf Challenge when last in action on home soil, fired three eagles in a seven-under 65 to share the lead with Chase Koepka, brother of US Open champion, Brooks.

Koepka began both nines with bogeys but was otherwise faultless as he takes the first steps along a path similar to that of his brother, who went from Challenge to European Tour before returning to the United States and becoming a major champion.

"It was great," said Koepka. "I think I played flawless, except for the second shot on the first hole. I hit a poor shot there and saved it with a 12-footer for a bogey. I made eagle on the second hole and kind of kept it going from there."

Four back-nine birdies saw England's Chris Paisley card an opening 66 to sit one adrift, with Scotland's Bradley Neil among four players on five-under after a fine start to his first full year on the European Tour.

Grace, who is Sky Bet's 7/4 favourite having been 6/1 prior to the tournament, got off to an ideal start with an eagle at the par-five second.

Further eagles at the eighth and 15th holes, along with three birdies and two bogeys, saw him match the mark set by American Koepka in the morning.

"I can't remember when, or if, I've ever made three eagles in a round but it was fun," said Grace.

"I was a little bit rusty with some of the wedge shots but all in all very pleased with the outcome and I think I pretty much got the most out of that round.

"It's a great start to 2018 and it's always nice to play back in South Africa. The people are here to support us and it's great to have all the top South African guys here."

Compatriot Charl Schwartzel birdied four in a row from the 10th in a three-under 69, with former champion Andy Sullivan a shot further back on two-under.

Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen endured a nightmare day, carding a seven-over 79 to sit in a share of 148th, while David Howell was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder complaint.

Related links

• Sky Bet's SA Open odds