Home favourite George Coetzee produced a closing 66 to claim the Joburg Open by three shots.

Damien McGrane has played in two British Opens, but he could be on course to make his third appearance at Royal Liverpool in July after opening with a five under 66 in the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington in South Africa.

South Africa’s Richard Sterne and Trevor Fisher Jnr are tied for the lead at the halfway stage of the Joburg Open, three shots clear of the chasing pack.

An eight-under-par round of 63 helped the in-form Richard Sterne set the early pace on the opening morning of the Joburg Open.

South African’s Branden Grace carded a level-par 72 in his final round to win the Joburg Open today and deny Jamie Elson what would have been a remarkable triumph.

England’s Jamie Elson gave himself a chance of winning the Joburg Open after firing a brilliant nine-under-par 63 in his final round today on Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s East Course.

IRELAND’S Damien McGrane and England’s Jamie Elson share the lead after a weather-interrupted first round of the Joburg Open yesterday.

Ireland’s Damien McGrane and England’s Jamie Elson share the clubhouse lead after a weather-interrupted first round of the Joburg Open today.

Ireland’s Damien McGrane fired an eight-under-par 63 to claim the clubhouse lead in the first round of the Joburg Open today.

Floris de Vries and Justin Walters took huge steps towards places at the Open Championship after carding seven under par 64s in the first of two rounds of International Final Qualifying from Africa, which began in Johannesburg today.

Thomas Aiken led the Joburg Open early through the third round after his solitary birdie through five holes put him a shot clear on the east course of the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Charl Schwartzel delivered a magical 10-under-par round of 61 on a rain-affected day two of the Joburg Open to storm into a share of the lead at the halfway stage.

Thomas Aiken made his move early on day two of the Joburg Open, taking a one-stroke lead before rain halted his progress after 12 holes.

Martin Maritz and Tyrone Mordt shared the lead after round one of the Joburg Open today with both carding faultless nine-under-par 62s, although they came on different sets of 18 holes at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Branden Grace set the early pace at the Joburg Open after a blistering eight-under-par 63 in the opening round.

THE many American commentators who wondered aloud about Graeme McDowell’s worthiness to be crowned US Open champion after his great victory at Pebble Beach last June have been forced to eat another dose of humble pie after the latest heroics by the Portrush man in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday.

Darren Clarke was denied in Johannesburg as South African Charl Schwartzel coasted to a second successive European Tour victory in his home city today.

South African Charl Schwartzel has a second successive victory in his sights after another flawless display in the Joburg Open today.

DARREN CLARKE yesterday missed an opportunity to move into a share of second going into today’s third round of the Joburg Open.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is just two off the lead as he heads into the third round of the Joburg Open tomorrow.

England’s David Lynn, with only one win in over 300 European Tour starts, set the clubhouse target at the Joburg Open today.

South African Keith Horne, who missed out by three shots at the European Tour qualifying school in November, charged to the top of the leaderboard when the Joburg Open resumed today.

DARREN CLARKE’S lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open yesterday.

Darren Clarke’s lowest European Tour round since 1999 was still not quite enough to give him the first round lead in the Joburg Open today.

Denmark’s Anders Hansen admits the preparation for his Joburg Open title defence this week has not been ideal.

Anders Hansen has revealed that he knew he had the chance of winning the Joburg Open after looking at the scoreboard before the final round teed off yesterday.

Anders Hansen held his nerve on the final hole of the Joburg Open to claim a birdie and win the title from Andrew McLardy.

An outstanding finish to his front nine holes helped Anders Hansen take a one-shot lead into the final afternoon at the Joburg Open today.

Richard Sterne’s attempts to win a third consecutive European Tour at the Joburg Open looked to be quickly waning after a sluggish start to the final round today.

Charl Schwartzel, Andrew McLardy and David Drysdale share the lead going into the final round of the Joburg Open after the trio finished a rain-affected day three on 11-under par.

Charl Schwartzel made a blistering start to his third round at the Joburg Open today, picking up eight shots through 13 holes to move joint top alongside overnight leader David Drysdale.

David Drysdale followed up his opening-day 65 by carding a six-under round of 66 to lead a rain-affected Joburg Open by one stroke at the halfway stage today.

David Drysdale was leading the Joburg Open this afternoon when play was suspended because of thunder and lightning.

Oliver Bekker carded a six-under-par 65 to move into the clubhouse lead late on the second morning of the Joburg Open today.

Michael Hoey believes a good finish to last season is the main reason behind his good start to the 2009 European Tour after he carded an opening round seven-under-par 64 at the Joburg Open yesterday.

Steven Jeppesen shares the lead with Trevor Fisher Jnr after the pair carded opening-round eight-under-par 63s at the Joburg Open today.

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey lies just one shot off the lead on day one of Joburg Open in South Africa.

RICHARD STERNE is hoping to build on his superb ending to 2008 with another strong performance when the Joburg Open tees off today.

Richard Sterne came through a three-man play-off with Garth Mulroy and Magnus Carlsson to win the Joburg Open at the second extra hole.

Mark Murless remained in command at the Joburg Open late on Saturday afternoon with a two-stroke lead over Germany’s Sven Struver.

Warren Abery claimed sole lead of the Joburg Open midway through the second round after slip-ups from overnight leaders Tyrone Ferreira and Mark Murless allowed their compatriot to take charge of the £825,000 tournament.

South African Warren Abery was the big mover at the Joburg Open early in the second round, moving into a share of the lead with overnight leaders Tyrone Ferreira and Mark Murless.

Rookie Tyrone Ferreira carded a six under-par round of 65 to share the lead with fellow South African Mark Murless after the first day of the Joburg Open.

South African Mark Murless was the early pacesetter at the Joburg Open today heading a quartet of players by two shots after completing his round at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.