Richard Sterne.
Sterne ended on a five-under-par 279 total on Sunday courtesy of a final round three-under 68, one stroke behind winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
Jaidee, playing in the final group, needed three shots from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff.
Sterne shared second with three players, including Spaniard Gonzalo Fdez-Castano, Dane Thomas Bjorn and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.
The South African went out in level par in a fourth round blighted by miserable weather conditions, before storming home with an eagle on the par-four 15th hole.
The 2008 Sunshine Tour order of merit winner then picked up another shot on the long par-three 17th before a par at the last.
Sterne last tasted success on the European tour with a victory in the South Africa Open in December 2008 but has since struggled with a back injury.
Shot behind
He managed to play a total of just 10 events in 2010 and 2011 combined, with earnings of a little over €114 000. This season, from 11 events, he has already amassed €372 812.
Also featuring on the leaderboard was George Coetzee, in a tie for 14th, on even par for the tournament. Jaco van Zyl was a further shot behind on one over for the week.
Keith Horne was four over after dropping back in the final round as he settled for a share of 35th.
Rory Sabbatini let slip a two-shot lead on the back nine to finish tied second with Argentine Andres Romero at the US PGA tour’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.
The South African finished on a seven-under 281 total, two stokes adrift of Tiger Woods who picked up his 73rd career victory.
Sabbatini, in the final group with overnight leader Spencer Levin of the US, played the first nine in one over par.
Consecutive birdies
The fiery Sabbatini, who lives in Texas, proceeded to wrestle the lead with consecutive birdies on the 11th and 12th holes.
The turning point came at the par-three 16th where Woods, playing ahead of Sabbatini, pulled off an incredible flop-shot after missing the green long and holed out for birdie.
Sabbatini buckled under the pressure as he bogied the hole, to hand the 14-time major champion the advantage going down the stretch where Woods extended the margin to two shots on the final hole with another birdie.
Charl Schwartzel was the next best South African, with a two-over total for a share of 19th.
On three over par, Branden Grace and Trevor Immelman both put in credible performances with shares of 25th place for the week.
Further down, in tie for 58th on nine over par, was 2004 winner Ernie Els who struggled at the weekend with rounds of 74 and 78. – Sapa