Weekend winners: Amazing Grace victorious at Hilton Head

PGA Tour: RBC Heritage – Branden Grace

The South African, who has seven wins on the European Tour, is now off the mark in the States after a 66 gave him a two-shot victory.

For Luke Donald it was the 10^th time he had held a 54-hole lead and he has still only converted twice. The Englishman had birdies at 7 and 9 but the only putts he holed coming home were for pars. His sand save at the last meant that he tied Scotland’s Russell Knox for second.

Grace shot a closing 66 and the bulk of the damage was done with five birdies on the front nine. He then rolled in mid-range putts at 12 and 13 to bolt clear and, despite a bogey at the short 17^th, a par left his challengers with too much to do at the last. A par at the 16^th was particularly impressive after two visits to sand.

Grace had two top fives in the Majors last year but missed the cut at Augusta last week. However there was no sign of a hangover as he posted his second 66 of the week on Sunday.

Bryson DeChambeau was playing in his first tournament as a professional and his 68 for a share of fourth meant that he wouldn’t have to use this as one of his seven sponsor’s invites.

What Grace said: I have spoken to Ernie in the past about this event. And he thought it’s one that’s really going to suit my eye. It reminds me a little bit of Fancourt Links back home, because it’s linksy. You really have to see your thoughts. You have to hit a couple of different shots, not shots that you hit often.

“At the beginning of the week we actually spoke on Wednesday, we went to his house for coffee. And he told me this is one event that I’m going to win a couple of times in my career. It was nice to hear from a legend like that. And obviously Ernie said, I told you you were going to win it a couple of times.”

European Tour: Spanish Open – Andrew Johnston

The man they call ‘Beef’ has his first win on Tour after a last-round 70 edged out Joost Luiten with a fast-finishing tournament host Sergio Garcia two back. NCG columnist James Morrison tied for fourth with Soren Kjeldsen.

The halfway cut came at 10 over and Johnston’s winning total of plus one was the first over-par aggregate since Ian Woosnam in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie in 1996.

The Englishman three-putted the 14^th but a 20-footer two holes later proved to be crucial as Luiten was unable to make any progress over the back nine.

Garcia was three back with three to play after a bogey at 15 but a long birdie at the next and a two-putt birdie at the famous 17^th turned things around. However a flyer at the last, an 8-iron from 195 yards, saw him overshoot the final green and drop a shot.

What Johnston said: “I came off the course and I just started crying with the emotion of it. I don’t think it will hit me for a few days.

“I had a good year last year which gave me confidence. The goal this year was to get a win and I can’t believe it has happened this quick. It is what you dream of, to have your name on a trophy alongside so many special names like Seve, Faldo and Langer. You see them winning these tournaments so to put mine on there feels pretty ridiculous really. It really does.”

Well well well. I can't describe the amount of messages from u guys. Thank u so much for the support. Really means so much. Thank u

— Andrew Johnston (@BeefGolf) April 17, 2016

LPGA Tour: LOTTE Championship – Minjee Lee

The Aussie came from five shots back to claim her second victory and, in the process, become just the fifth player in LPGA history to win twice before her 20^th birthday – the others are Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Marlene Hagge and Sandra Haynie.

Lee shot a bogey-free 64, 10 better than her Saturday round, to pip In Gee Chun and American Katie Burnett. Both players had long birdie putts at the last to force a play-off. The highlight for Lee was a pitch-in eagle at the 13^th and she came home in juts 30 shots.

What Lee said: “Well, yesterday I spoke to my coach and he was like, You’re only five back. Just shoot 8-under and you’ll be fine.

“I think after I went eagle, birdie, birdie, I think the second birdie I was like, Oh, I’m going to be really close. I just did all I could do, and, yeah, here I am.”