• South Africa Open, Round Four

Otto holds on to claim tense victory

Hennie Otto was delighted to finally clinch victory in his home country © Getty Images

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Hennie Otto made life difficult for himself before finally securing a dramatic home victory at the South Africa Open on Sunday.

Otto, who held a three-shot lead going into the final round at Serengeti Golf Club, looked to be comfortably on course to complete the win as he maintained that advantage with just six holes remaining. But bogeys at the 13th, 15th and 16th suddenly dropped him back into a tie with Austria's Bernd Wiesberger with just two holes remaining.

The world No. 226 kept his cool to bounce back, however, calmly pitching in to around six feet at the short par-four 17th to claim a crucial birdie that put him back ahead at 14-under, before completing a par with a nervy four-footer at the last to seal an emotional victory with a final round of 72.

"I worked out that if I shot four under (68) they would have to shoot seven under. It didn't work out that way," Otto said afterwards. "There are some great names on the trophy and I said it would be great if I could add mine. Today's the day."

The win - his second on the European Tour after claiming the 2008 Italian Open - elevated Otto into the top 60 in the Race to Dubai standings, just in time for him to secure his place at the season-ending event next month.

Wiesberger finished second at 13-under, after his final round of 68.

Many had expected Retief Goosen to provide the strongest challenge to Otto on the final day, but the two-time US Open champion never really thrust himself into contention as he struggled to pick up shots on the front nine at Ekurhuleni. He had the same problem on the back nine, with a sloppy bogey at the last eventually condemning Goosen to a final round of 73 and ten-under total for the tournament, four adrift of the winner.

He was thus beaten by Thomas Aiken (72), Ockie Strydom (69) and Englishman Richard McEvoy (68) who all shared third position - with the latter securing his playing privileges for the 2012 season with the strong finish.

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