Hennie Otto Survives Nervy Finish

Home-town favorite Henie Otto survived a intimidating finale to win the South African Open by one stroke at the Serengeti Golf Estate.

Otto fritter away a three-shot during the night lead with three bogeys flanked by the 13th and 16th holes as Austria`s Bernd Wiesberger mounted a charge.

Wiesberger, who begin the day five strokes behind, went out in 33 to move inside three of the South African but could only maintain two birdies on the back nine as he ended second.

Otto sank a 10-foot birdie putt for a three on the last but one hole, after driving over the green, and two-putted the last to close with a level-par 72 and a 14-under total of 274.

"Any win is good but particularly this one. It's our national open and you see the names on that cup and your name there too, I'm proud," Otto told reporters after picking up his second European Tour title.

"I hit just one awful shot, when I pushed my drive into the bunker on 13, but I was pump up. Maybe I tried to force a few shots and some of them went additional than I thought they would."

Victory for the 35-year-old Otto, who also won the 2008 Italian Open, means he has capable for the lucrative season-ending Dubai World Championship in two weeks' time.

Thomas Aiken returned a 72 to share third place with fellow South African Ockie Strydom (69) and Briton Richard McEvoy (68)on 277. 5-times winner Ernie Els crashed to a seven-more than 79 for293, tied for 69th spot.