Grace notches first European Tour win

Golf Betting Lines

01/15/2012 - Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Branden Grace took a three-shot lead into Sunday's final round and fired an even-par 72 to hold off Jamie Elson and win the Joburg Open.

Grace played a total of 21 holes on Sunday at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club after weather delays forced a change in schedule. He entered the day tied with Richard Finch, who had four holes remaining in the third round, but closed with two birdies to set up a significant advantage.

Finch, meanwhile, shot a one-over over the last three holes and was tied with George Coetzee after 54 holes in second at 14-under. With a three-shot lead over the pair, Grace was able to shoot an even-par down the stretch for a 17- under 270 and his first European Tour title.

Grace avoided any serious mistakes over the back nine -- all pars -- to deny Elson a miracle comeback. Elson entered the final round 10 strokes off the lead, but whittled it to one with a closing eagle at the par-five 18th. Elson waited in the clubhouse for a potential playoff, but Grace never flinched.

Elson, who tied the East Course record of nine-under 63 set by Charl Schwartzel, finished second at 16-under 271 overall. David Drysdale (67), Marc Warren (68), Jaco Van Zyl (68), Trevor Fisher, Jr. (68), Dawie Van Der Walt (70) and Michiel Bothma (71) shared third at 14-under.

Both Finch (78) and Coetzee (75) tailed off over the final 18 holes, finishing 24th and 14th, respectively. Neither was a factor in the final outcome.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

Foxspoets Golf Betting News

<< Paul leads Clippers past Lakers in battle of LA
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first battle of Los Angeles went to the Clippers, as Chris Paul finished with 33 points and six assists to carry his new team over the Lakers, 102-94, at a fragmented Staples Center. The acquisition

<< Quick strong in net as Kings top Flames
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Richards and Dustin Brown finished with a goal and an assist apiece as the Los Angeles Kings topped the Calgary Flames, 4-1 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Matt Greene and Anze Kopitar also found the back of t

<< Blues nip Wild in SO
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Shattenkirk scored the game-winning goal in the second round of the shootout, sending the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild at Scottrade Center. Shattenkirk skated in on Josh Har

<< Jazz beat Nets, spoil Williams' return
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Deron Williams was met with a mix of boos and cheers in his return to play the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. And there was nothing friendly about the way the basket treated him. Williams scored 16

<< Terry, Nowitzki shine as Mavs rout Kings
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Terry scored 21 points and Dirk Nowitzki chipped in 14 as the Dallas Mavericks routed the Sacramento Kings, 99-60. Jason Kidd returned to the lineup after missing the last four games with a lower ba

Warriors seek first road win vs. Pistons >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit hopes to build on its first win in nearly two weeks when it hosts a struggling Golden State Warriors club at The Palace. The Pistons snapped a six-game skid on Friday in Charlotte when Jonas Jerebko scored 22 point

Top-10 foes collide in Columbus >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of top-10 teams coming off rare losses meet up in Columbus this afternoon, as the seventh-ranked Indiana Hoosiers and fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes clash in a Big Ten battle at Value City Arena. Tha

Big East brawl pits Hoyas against Red Storm >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 11th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas will head to the Big Apple this afternoon for a Big East showdown with the St. John's Red Storm at famed Madison Square Garden. John Thompson III's Hoyas are an impressive 13-3

Blue Devils and Tigers tangle in ACC affair >>
Clemson, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils continue their run through the ACC, as the take on the Clemson Tigers in a league affair at Littlejohn Coliseum this evening. Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils are 14-2 on the sea

No.23 Bluejays host Salukis in MVC contest >>
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southern Illinois Salukis will try to halt the 23rd-ranked Creighton Bluejays' five-game winning streak as they head to the CenturyLink Center for Missouri Valley Conference action. Creighton owns a 49-36 edg

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard