Marc Leishman cruises to Nedbank Golf Challenge victory

Marc Leishman stormed clear on the back nine to secure a six-shot victory and his first European Tour title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

The Australian, looking for his first win worldwide since the 2012 Travelers Championship, recovered from an early blemish at the third to post a five-under 67 to finish on 19-under 269 and secure a convincing win over nearest challenger Henrik Stenson. 

After heading into the final round at Sun City with a one-shot advantage, Leishman moved three clear by sinking a 10-foot gain at the seventh as Stenson found sand off the tee.

Stenson responded by holing a 15-foot birdie putt at the eighth and matching Leishman's two-putt gain at the next, only to see his hopes slip away after the turn.

After the pair both birdied the 10th to extend their advantage over the chasing pack, Leishman restored his three-shot cushion with a tap-in birdie at the 13th after his stunning approach spun back to within inches of the flag.

A wayward drive at the 15th ended Stenson's hopes as Leishman rolled in a 20-foot putt, before the Australian moved further ahead by sinking another lengthy gain at the next.

Although Stenson chipped in to birdie the 17th, a final-hole blemish for the second day running left the Swede a long way off the pace.

"It's a lot easier when you don't have to make up ground and it was a great finish," said Leishman, who lost out to Zach Johnson in a play-off in The Open at St Andrews in July. 

"Henrik was getting away a bit on Saturday but it's been an amazing week. I knew it was going to be a really tough day, I knew I had to play well. I'm really pleased that I could play as well as I did and have a little bit of a buffer there at the end."

Three consecutive birdies along the back nine from Chris Wood saw the Lyoness Open winner end the week in third spot, as defending champion Danny Willett finished in the group a further stroke back after a bogey-free 68.

European Tour Golf

Robert Streb's double-bogey at the last saw him finish alongside Willett and Victor Dubuisson in the tie for fourth, with Branden Grace also 11 shots off the lead following a one-under 71.

One-time joint-leader Jaco van Zyl's chance of victory disappeared with a run of three straight bogeys around the turn on his way to an error-filled 78, while a triple-bogey seven at the 17th by Bernd Wiesberger saw him card a season-worst 81.