Stenson cruises to Sun City win, Perry rallies for second

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Henrik Stenson led after every round in South Africa.

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) -- Sweden's Henrik Stenson shot a 4-under 68 Sunday as he cruised to a nine-shot win ahead of Kenny Perry at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Stenson finished with a 21-under 267 total for the second-largest winning margin in the history of the tournament, behind Nick Price's 12-shot triumph in 1993.

"An eight-shot lead going into the final round made me feel pretty comfortable, and I just went out there and took care of business," Stenson said after receiving the $1.2 million winner's check. "It was a bit slow in the first nine, but I seem to like the homeward nine here, and I got the birdies going again."

Only two players have posted a better final score in the tournament. Ernie Els won with 25 under in 1999 and Price finished at 24 under in 1993. Els also had a 21-under total in 2002.

Stenson was unable to use his 3-wood after the shaft broke when he was on the 14th tee.

"I finished the last four holes without it," he said.

Perry had the best round of the day with a 7-under 65 -- boosted by an eagle 3 on the second when he holed his bunker shot from next to the green -- to leapfrog Sweden's Robert Karlsson and South Africa's Rory Sabbatini into second on 12-under 276.

Karlsson, the European Tour's Order of Merit winner, finished in third another three shots behind, while Sabbatini struggled with his putting and had to settle for fourth, another stroke back.

Second-ranked Sergio Garcia finished a steady week on 4-under 284 to tie for fifth with Lee Westwood.

Defending champion Trevor Immelman had to take a two-shot penalty on the 14th when he hit his club into the sand of a bunker in frustration before playing his shot out of the trap. He finished 10th in the 12-man field on 291 after his final-round 77.

Stenson will conclude his year by playing in the South African Open on Dec. 18.

"It just wraps up a very good season for me. I had three or four great years in a row now, so I am very happy to finish it off with two wins and I will take one more chance at the SA Open," he said.