Sterne claims Dunhill title

The 27-year-old South African carded a final round three-under-par 69 on Sunday for an overall total of 271, making the most of constant lapses from overnight leader Aiken and American Mattiace, who ended day four with scores of 75 and 77 respectively.

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

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

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

The world number 113, who clinched his fifth 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, 10th 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.

"I actually only saw the leaderboard on 16 and thought the leaders will probably be on 17 or 18 under," said Sterne. "So I got a bit of a surprise when I was leading by one. I made a good two putt there and I knew that 17 under was probably going to be good enough. But I'm quite happy.

"The back nine I gave away two very weak bogeys on 10 and 12, but I came back strong and that's what counts on those last six holes on a Sunday."