11 Apr 2009

Tim Clark wins Masters' par three contest

6:44 am on 11 April 2009

The South African golfer Tim Clark was one of three players to record a hole-in-one on his way to winning the pre-Masters par-three competition at Augusta National.

Clark finished on five under par, completing the nine-hole course in 22 thanks to an ace on the 123-metre ninth.

Greg Norman achieved the feat on the sixth while American John Merrick did the same on the second.

Former winner 73-year-old Gary Player holed his tee shot at the ninth but it was his second attempt over the water.

21-year-old Jack Newman making his first Masters appearance, finished joint second on three under along with Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, who won the main event at Augusta in 1994 and 1999.

No winner of the par-three competition, held on the short course adjoining the main Augusta National lay-out, has gone on to win the Masters in the same year.