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MALELANE, South Africa - Unheralded Spaniard Alvaro Quiros came roaring from behind to win the Dunhill Championship by one stroke at Leopard Creek this morning (NZ time).
Quiros, playing just his fourth European Tour event, shot a five-under-par 67 to pip overnight leader Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, who deposited his second shot on the par-five 18th into the water surrounding the notorious green.
Britons Lee Westwood and Mark Pilkington, who were tied for second two strokes behind at the start of the final round, both endured frustrating days.
Westwood finished third on nine under par, four behind Quiros, after a one-over-par 73, while Pilkington shot a 75 to finish tied for seventh, his round destroyed by three successive double bogeys between the seventh and ninth holes.
The 23-year-old Quiros shot 74 in the first round but then tore up the course with rounds of 66, 68 and 67 to finish on 13-under-par 275 overall, having started the final round in fifth place, four strokes behind.
Quiros produced a string of huge drives off the tees and showed a deft hand on the green as he picked up three birdies on the outward nine, then soared into the lead with three successive birdies between the 13th and 15th holes.
He sealed his victory with a remarkable putt for eagle from 65 feet on the 18th which shaved the hole, leaving him with a simple tap in for birdie.
Quiros, who is being coached by former Ryder Cup player Jose Rivero, said his driving had not been particularly accurate but his putting, not usually his area of expertise, had compensated.
"I have not been hitting the ball very straight off the tee and yesterday was terrible, I was pulling everything. But with my putting, which has been very poor the last five months, I didn't miss and when I have a six-iron in my hand I think I can do anything, even use it as an umbrella," Quiros said.
Quiros admitted that he thought his birdie at 18 would only earn him a playoff with Schwartzel but the South African, who held at least a share of the lead for the first three rounds, could only par the final hole for a level-par 72.
The 2004 champion and 2005 runner-up said he was aiming for the middle of the green on the par-five 18th and two putts for a playoff.
"The wind was coming from the right and I wanted to be left of the flag in the middle of the green but I just overdid it. It was just a bad shot," Schwartzel said.
The 22-year-old bemoaned a string of narrow misses on the greens on the front nine.
"I thought I played really well, I can't say I threw it away. I was in the fairway the whole time but nothing happened with the putter. On the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth holes, my putts went over the edge of the hole."
- REUTERS