Daniel Stapff wins Faldo Series South America Championship

Daniel Stapff won the third Faldo Series South America Championship over his home course at the Alphaville Graciosa Golf Club at Curitiba in Brazil.

Stapff fired rounds of 71, 70 and 70 to tie Rafael Becker on five-under-par 211 and then defeated his compatriot with a par on the second hole of the subsequent sudden-death play-off.

"I still can't really believe it," said the home favourite, Stapff. "I have never won a tournament here at Alphaville Graciosa but what a way to change that.

"It's a dream come true to win a place in the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final."

Sadly, the championship, which was supported by The R&A, the European Tour and Lough Erne Resort, turned into nightmare for Argentinean, Julian Clarke, who came to the 54th hole with a three-shot lead only to run up a quadruple-bogey nine.

The victory gave Stapff a place in the Faldo Series Grand Final, to be played at The Lough Erne Resort, in Northern Ireland, on September 21-23, where he will be joined by Chile's Gustavo Silva who put together rounds of 67, 70 and 77 to claim an extra-time victory in the Boys' Under-18 category.

Brazil's Henrique Souza Pombo posted rounds of 74, 72 and 71 to claim a four-stroke winning margin in the Boys' Under-16 category.

Both the Girls' Under-21 age group winner, Ana Paula Costa from Brazil, and the Girls' Under-16 champion, Paloma Vaccaro from Paraguay, also earned places at The Lough Erne Resort.  

For further information about the Faldo Series please visit nickfaldo.com

Where next? Tour news: Peter Hanson wins Czech Open Equipment: New PING S56 irons Competitions: Golf prizes to be won