Ramsay secures maiden European Tour win

Golf Development - 22 Dec, 2009

Former R&A Foundation Scholar, Richie Ramsay, secured his maiden European Tour title after winning the South African Open in a play-off at Pearl Valley yesterday. (Sunday)

Coming from five shots behind, Ramsay produced a perfect seven-under-par 65, the lowest round of the day, to win the title, beating India's Shiv Kapur with a birdie on the first play-off hole.

The 25-year-old Aberdonian received funding from The R&A to help him continue to play competitive golf while completing his academic studies at the University of Stirling.

Ramsay enjoyed a successful amateur career playing in the 2005 Walker Cup for Great Britain & Ireland, as well as winning numerous Scottish titles. In 2006 he became the first Scot to win the US Amateur since Findlay Douglas in 1898.

The Scot achieved the accolade of becoming the first amateur golfer to be officially ranked World Number One when The R&A released the first official amateur ranking in January 2007.

A fourth place finish in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October secured his European Tour card for the new season.  However, this victory in South Africa now gives him a Tour exemption that runs until the end of 2011.