EUROTOUR: Sterne pounces to wins at Leopard Creek

The 27 year old South African carded a three under par 69 for a 17 under overall total of 271, making the most of lapses from overnight leader Thomas Aiken and American Len Mattiace, who ended day four with scores of 75 and 77 respectively.

Englishman Robert Rock finished tied for second with Johan Edfors – the Swede carding a 66 for the best final round score alongside Alan McLean and 2007 South African Airways Open winner James Kingston.

The win propels Sterne into the top five in The Race to Dubai and makes him the first home winner at Leopard Creek since Ernie Els three years ago.

Aiken, who powered his way to a course record 61 in the third round and held a one stroke lead heading into the final day, finished in fourth place with Spain´s Rafael Cabrera Bello on 15 under par, while Scotsman McLean and another home favourite Keith Horne ended a further stroke back.

But the day belonged to Sterne, who’s last win on The European Tour came at the Joburg Open at the start of 2008.

The World Number 113, who secured his fourth European title in the process, would have been surprised by the manner at which the leading overnight pair fell away.

Aiken started out well enough with two birdies in his opening four holes and was four shots ahead at one point.

But bogeys on the par four ninth, tenth and 18th holes, added to a double bogey on the 11th, saw him end his round on three over par, while Mattiace finished on five over par with two bogeys and a pair of triple bogeys.