DURBAN: South Africa's Ernie Els held off a strong finish from compatriot Retief Goosen to secure a one-shot victory at the South African Open Sunday. Els claimed his fifth South African Open title thanks to a final round six-under-par 63 to finish on 25-under 257 at the Durban Country Club in the 100th edition of the tournament. Goosen could not halt Els's charge to victory as he also carded a final round six-under-par 63 to end on 24-under-par. Els looked to have shut the door on Goosen thanks to a snaking 15-foot putt which resulted in an eagle on the 527-yard par-five 14th hole. The eagle helped Els to a four-shot lead with four holes to play but Goosen hit back as he birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes but the 41-year-old Els held his nerve to close out the victory with four consecutive pars. In all Els helped himself to five birdies and an eagle with just one bogey marring his card while Goosen picked up seven birdies and a bogey after he struck his tee shot left into a thick bush and was forced to take a drop on the par-five third. British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen was third on 21-under-par after a final round six-under 63 while fellow South African Charl Schwartzel was fourth on 18-under. The leading foreigners were Briton Robert Rock and Frenchman Romain Wattel who finished tied for fifth on 16-under. Heavy overnight rain meant organizers reduced the competition to 70 holes after the weather rendered the par-three fourth hole unplayable. The decision meant that the final two rounds were contested on a par-69 course instead of par-72. Hiratsuka wins title Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka claimed his third title of the season Sunday when he won the $600,000 Black Mountain Masters after a playoff against Thai youngster Namchoak Tantipokakul at Hua Hin in Thailand. Hiratsuka triumphed in the Asian Tour's season-finale at the Black Mountain Golf Club with a par at the first play-off hole on the par-five 18th to pip Namchoak, who bogeyed in extra time. The Japanese veteran, who also won the Myanmar Open and Queen's Cup in Thailand earlier this season, signed off with a one-under-par 71 and was caught by a fast-charging Namchoak, who ended with a 65 for a 14-under-par 274. Overnight leader Piya Swangarunporn was dealt a double blow when he missed out on the playoff by one shot after closing with a 73 to discover he had missed his Tour card by a mere $205. It was also heartbreak for Lee Sung of South Korea, who bogeyed his last hole to finish one shot shy of the playoff in his round of 70. Thai star Thongchai Jaidee fell off the pace with a double bogey, bogey, bogey run from the 11th hole to eventually finish seventh, two shots back.
