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PAARL, South Africa - South Africa's James Kingston claimed his first European Tour title when he won the South African Open by one stroke at Pearl Valley Golf Estates today.
The 42-year-old has won four times on the Asian Tour and nine times on the Sunshine Tour, but has finished runner-up on three previous occasions on the European Tour.
Kingston saw off England's Oliver Wilson, who finished on a three-under-par 285, with a one-under-par 71 that saw him end on four-under for the tournament.
His victory also ensured the trophy stayed in the republic for the eighth straight year.
Kingston started the final round one stroke behind Wilson, who lost the lead on the first hole after a bogey five.
Steady drizzle fell throughout the day, calling for composure and patience from the leaders, whose tee-off times were delayed by three-and-a-half hours by the weather.
Despite Wilson dropping two more shots on the front nine, Kingston was unable to break free as he found the water on the par-three fourth hole for a double bogey and also dropped a shot on the ninth.
Wilson rallied with birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, but Kingston held his nerve better than ever before in his career and completed the victory with a two-putt par on the par-five 18th as darkness settled over Pearl Valley.
The experienced Darren Clarke powered to a four-under-par 68 on Sunday to share third place on one-under with Wales' Kyron Sullivan and two South Africans, American campaigner Garth Mulroy and Louis Oosthuizen.
Mulroy moved to within a stroke of the lead after an opening nine of one-under-par, but lost his chances for the title by promptly bogeying the 10th hole and double-bogeying the 11th.
Former world No 1 Greg Norman shot a one-under-par 71 on Sunday to finish on level-par for the tournament, tied for seventh place with journeymen Craig Lile, Nic Henning and England's Robert Rock, who led the tournament after the first round.
Defending champion Ernie Els' tournament hopes were over after a 77 in the third round, but the world No 5 did finish on a high note with his best round of the week, a three-under-par 69 that saw him vault into a tie for 16th position.
Retief Goosen, Richard Sterne and Charl Schwartzel were the leading figures tied with Els on five-over for the tournament.
Argentina's Angel Cabrera, the reigning US Open champion, shot a 70 in the final round to finish on seven-over and in the tie for 28th position, having just made the halfway cut.
- REUTERS
