Sterne shocked by Madrid victory

13 April 2012

South African Richard Sterne carded a brilliant closing round of 65 to win the Madrid Open and a place on the European Tour for the next two years.

The 23-year-old from Pretoria came into the week 122nd on the order of merit and knowing he had to move up six places in the last counting event to save his place on the circuit.

But after yesterday's heroics, Sterne will be spared the ordeal of the qualifying school next month.

"A bad round today and I was back at the tour school," said Sterne, who beat Dane Anders Hansen by two shots.

"I can't believe I am standing here." The winner's cheque for £115,225 was £24,000 more than he earned in the rest of the year. Australian Jarrod Moseley was perhaps the unluckiest player this week. He finished the year only 13 euros behind Sweden's Robert Karlsson, the last man to gain an automatic card for next year, after missing the cut.

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