Charl Schwartzel storms to Tshwane Open triumph

Charl Schwartzel stormed to a superb eight-shot victory at the Tshwane Open, claiming his second European Tour title of the season in emphatic fashion.

The South African followed up his triumph at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in November with a combined 16-under par score, completed by matching a tournament-best round of 63 on Sunday.

Schwartzel led compatriot Zander Lombard, runner-up at the Joburg Open on his previous European Tour start, by one stroke going into the final day, but quickly pulled away with a birdie on the second hole.

Despite a bogey on three, the 2011 Masters champions bounced back and charged away from the field with an excellent 10-foot putt for an eagle at the ninth.

Schwartzel dropped another shot at 12, but it did not faze him as he sunk a 40-foot birdie putt to move to 14 under with four holes remaining.

The South African closed with a birdie on the final hole to beat his closest rival, Jeff Winther, by eight strokes.

The Dane took just one shot more than Schwartzel to complete his round, surging up the leaderboard by carding 64.

Anthony Michael rounded out the top three, while Lombard collapsed with a four-over round to finish tied seventh alongside Brett Rumford and Jamie McLeary.

Haydn Porteous placed tied 10th with fellow South African's Jaco van Zyl and Brandon Stone.