Joburg Open: George Coetzee wins first European Tour title

George Coetzee celebrates his victory in the Joburg Open

South Africa's George Coetzee booked his place at the 2014 Open Championship by winning his first European Tour event at the Joburg Open.

The 27-year-old carded a six-under-par 66 to finish three clear on 19 under.

England's Tyrrell Hatton (66), South Africa's Justin Walters (73) and South Korea's Jin Jeong (71) tied for second.

Andy Sullivan (65) finished joint-fifth with fellow Englishman Matthew Baldwin (67), South Africa's Thomas Aiken (74) and Spain's Alvaro Quiros (66).

Coetzee, who began the round four shots adrift of overnight leader Walters, birdied four of his first eight holes to move into the lead.

Two more birdies followed on the back nine as he carded a bogey-free round.

"I've been waiting a while and I started doubting, so I'm very happy," he said.

"It was my mum's birthday on Saturday and I wanted to do it for her as I forgot to buy her a present."

Walters, who birdied the sixth, was replaced at the top of the leaderboard by Coetzee after bogeying the eighth.

And two more bogeys and birdie on the back nine saw him fall away with a one-over-par round.

However, his joint third place finish at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club was enough to also earn him a spot at this year's Open Championship, where he will be joined by Jeong.

The top three were handed a place at Royal Liverpool on 17 July, but Hatton, who had seven birdies in his round, including at the 17th and 18th, after bogeying the second, missed out because of his lower world ranking.

Scotland's Craig Lee, who led at the halfway stage, carded closing rounds of 74 and 75 to slip to joint-49th.