Charl Schwartzel

Sadly for the 37-year-old Englishman, he three-putted the treacherous 18th green on the first play-off hole, ironically missing an almost identical 12 footer to the one that earned him his play-off in the first place, to see his first-ever European Tour title chance slip away.

In the meantime, his slender, 20-year-old opponent, young enough to still wear a brace on his teeth, came within feet of finding the water with an approach shot out of the rough, but brilliantly chipped to within seven or eight feet and then drained the winning putt to the delight of his family and supporters.

Schwartzel, a former English Amateur Open champion who, at 18,  was one of the youngest ever Q-school qualifiers to make the European Tour, pumped his first with great relish when that winning putt went in, but he looked almost overwhelmed during his TV interview immediately afterwards

"It is a wonderful feeling to have won and especially to do it here in front of so many of my friends and family.

"To get my first win in South Africa is just unbelievable," he said, looking wide-eyed when it was pointed out that his winners cheque of 120,576 Euros had sent him to the Top of the Volvo Order of Merit list and earned him a three-year exemption.

Schwartzel admitted that he had opened the door to Cheetham and Frost when he two-putted the 17th and 18th greens and agreed that his final chip in the play-off had been the shot that had won him his maiden European Tour title.

"Yes, it was a very good chip considering I was as nervous as hell! 

"But shots like that and positions like that are what you practice for, so I am very, very happy."

Earlier the two play-off antagonists had finished with 7-under 281s to hold off Ernie Els, fellow South African Warren Abery and English rookie Oliver Whitely who missed a 10-footer for an eagle at the last that would have put him into the play-off with Cheetham and Schwartzel.

The 2nd-placed trio were just one shot back on 6-under in this enormously tense and unnerving finish with defending champion Marcel Siem, who posted a best of the day 67, tied for sixth place with luckless David Frost.

The South African veteran, playing with Cheetham at the back of the field, had as much chance of winning as anyone else when he hit a stunning second on the long, par-5 18th, leaving himself with a relatively simple wedge shot to the water-guarded final green for an eagle to win.

He found the green, all right, but to his horror, the ball inexplicable refused to stop and rolled right through into the water on the other side of the pin, completely destroying his chance of making that winning eagle that had seemed so much within his compass and also blowing himself out of the play-off.

Frost's body language made it clear that his late slip had come as a devastating blow, but in direct contrast, the affable Cheetham was in unbelievably good spirits afterwards.

Until recently a club professional in Sheffield, the Worksop golfer once again displayed the disarming humour which has characterised his approach this week.

"I'm still feeling pretty good," he said.

"I've had a fantastic week and really enjoyed it. Charl deserved it, because he had a fantastic up-and-down.

"I didn't hit the ball particularly well today.

"I got off to a good start, but then just lost my way a little bit on the front nine.

"To be honest, I rolled the ball very badly this week - it's something that will have to improve."

Looking at the final putt that cost him the title, Cheetham said: "I knew I shouldn't leave it short - but I just couldn't hit it harder.

"I didn't have the nerve. I knew the line and I knew the speed - but I just couldn't sink it."

The final scores
-7 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 71 69 70 71
-7 Neil Cheetham (ENG) 68 71 69 73
-6 Warren Abery (RSA) 69 70 73 70 
-6 Ernie Els (RSA) 67 75 70 70 18 1
-6 Oliver Whiteley (ENG) 72 67 72 71
-5 David Frost (RSA) 70 70 69 74
-5 Marcel Siem (GER) 76 69 71 67
-4 Graeme Storm (ENG) 73 68 75 68 
-4 Damien McGrane (IRL) 74 68 72 70 
-4 Euan Little (SCO) 71 69 72 72 
-3 Tim Clark (RSA) 77 68 73 67 
-3 Michael Kirk (RSA) 71 72 69 73 
-2 Richard Finch (ENG) 72 69 72 73 
-1 Des Terblanche (RSA) 69 70 76 72 
-1 Johan Edfors (SWE) 70 74 71 72 
-1 Martin Maritz (RSA) 75 72 68 72 
 E Darren Fichardt (RSA) 70 71 78 69  
 E Ian Garbutt (ENG) 71 72 76 69 
 E Iain Steel (MAL) 70 73 75 70  
 E Mark Murless (RSA) 76 69 73 70  
 E Garry Houston (WAL) 80 68 69 71  
 E Leif Westerberg (SWE) 70 70 76 72