Coetsee hangs on for Zambia Open title

Kitwe, Zambia (SportsNetwork.com) - Wallie Coetsee carded a 1-under 71 on Sunday and hung on for a one-stroke victory at the Mopani Copper Mines Zambia Open.

Coetsee collected his second career win on the Sunshine Tour at 15-under-par 273. Coetsee's last title on tour came at the 1997 Namibia Open.

Last week's Investec Royal Swazi Open winner Danie van Tonder (71) and Justin Harding (68) shared second place at 14-under.

Third-round co-leader Jean Hugo tripped to 1-over 73 during his final round at Nkana Golf Club to fall into a tie for fourth with Francesco Laporta (67) at 13-under 275.

Coetsee and Hugo entered the final round tied at 14-under, and Coetsee was the first to claim the outright lead with a birdie at the second.

A two-stroke swing at the third moved Hugo into the lead as he birdied the hole while Coetsee tripped to a bogey.

But Coetsee bounced right back with a birdie at the fourth, and he was handed sole possession of first place when Hugo bogeyed the seventh.

Coetsee moved two strokes clear of Hugo with a birdie at the ninth before Hugo fell further off the pace with another bogey at the 10th.

Coetsee parred six straight from the 10th to remain two strokes ahead of clubhouse leaders Harding and van Tonder until a bogey at the 16th dropped him back to 15-under. He bounced back with a birdie at the 17th, which proved to be useful as he bogeyed the last to hang on for the victory.