PAARL, South Africa (AP) -- James Kingston shot a 1-under 71 Sunday to beat Oliver Wilson by one stroke at the South African Airways Open. The South African national championship was co-sanctioned by the European Tour and southern Africa's Sunshine Tour.
Kingston finished the final round as darkness set in after an earlier rain delay at the Pearl Valley Golf Estates course held up play. The South African finished at 4-under 284 overall.
"You dream about this, but I never thought it would ever happen," Kingston said. "When I saw it was raining I was nervous. The delays just put everything on hold, and it just made the day tougher."
Wilson (73) started the day with a one-stroke lead, but the Englishman bogeyed three holes on the front nine. Despite two birdies on the back, he couldn't catch Kingston.
Kingston had three birdies on the front nine, but he added a bogey and a double bogey. His birdie on the 11th made the difference.
"I've come close in this championship before and somehow I always thought that this would be it but then I lost," Kingston said. "Today was the same situation, but it turned out differently and I'm really grateful."
Greg Norman (71) finished in a tie for seventh, and ahead of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera. Els (69) rebounded from his second 77 and finished in a tie with Goosen (75) for 16th.
Darren Clarke (68) tied for third with Kyron Sullivan (71), Louis Oosthuizen (71) and Garth Mulroy (73).
Kingston's victory also secured him the Sunshine Tour's Order of Merit title. Finishing first on the money list earns him a place at next year's British Open and other tournaments.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
