Branden Grace ended Brett Rumford’s bid for a third straight European Tour title with a 4 and 3 last-16 victory at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria.
Having won the Ballantine’s Championship and Volvo China Open in recent weeks, 35 year old Australian Rumford was looking to match a feat only accomplished by Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros in recording three consecutive European Tour titles.
South African Grace had other ideas, however, and the Volvo specialist – he won the China Open and Volvo Golf Champions last year – turned five up.
Rumford won three of the next four to briefly threaten a comeback, but when Grace took the next two the dream was all over for Rumford.
Grace looked likely to face Chris Wood in this afternoon’s quarter-finals, with the Englishman four up with four to play against Richard Sterne.
Italian Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari was five up with five to play on Carl Pettersson, with Shane Lowry one up on Thomas Aiken in the other game in the top half of the draw.
Defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts looked set to face Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell in the last eight – the pair three up and four up respectively on Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño and Bo Van Pelt.
The fourth member of the Miracle at Medinah European side, Swede Peter Hanson, was two down to Thongchai Jaidee, while Scott Jamieson and Felipe Aguilar were all square with seven to play.
