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 near Stellenbosch in the Western Cape yesterday.

The 42-year-old has won four times on the Asian Tour and nine times on the Sunshine Tour, but has also finished runner-up on three 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.

He collected €158,500 for his victory and ensured the trophy stayed in the republic for the eighth straight year.

And Darren Clarke continued his recent rehabilitation with an impressive closing round of four-under-par 68 that left him in a share of third place on 287, just three shots behind the winner.

That was worth €48,500 to the Ulsterman.

Peter Lawrie closed with a 74 to finish on six over par and in a share of 21st place. He earned €10,500 for his efforts.

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.

Clarke shared third place on one under with Wales's 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 chance for the title by promptly bogeying the 10th hole and double-bogeying the 11th.

Former world number one Greg Norman shot a one-under-par 71 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's tournament hopes were over after a 77 in the third round, but the world number five 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.

Three more local men, Retief Goosen, Richard Sterne and Charl Schwartzel, and Sweden's Joachim Backstrom, were 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.