Trevor Immelman won his first European Tour title with a play-off victory over Tim Clark in the South African Open in Cape Town.

The South African duo finished on 14 under at Erinvale Golf Club before Immelman, 23, birdied the first extra hole.

Immelman began the final round two shots adrift but clawed his way into contention with a closing 67 to defending champion Clark's 69.

Former South African amateur champion Jean Hugo, tied for the lead with Clark at 14 under through 15, faltered in sight of home on his way to a closing 73.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

-14 Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark -11 Charl Schwartzel, Bobby Lincoln, Bradford Vaughan, Tjaart Van Der Walt, Jean Hugo

Collated scores

The third-round leader finished in an all-South African five-way share of third at 11 under.

Wales' Stephen Dodd was the leading foreigner on 10 under alongside Scot Andrew Coltart, Ireland's Gary Murphy, Englishmen Brian Davis and Justin Rose and Holland's Rolf Muntz.

Immelman, a protege of Open champion Ernie Els, used to be a member of Erinvale GC, in the Cape Town suburb of Somerset-West where he was born.

He said: "It's a dream come true for me. I can't tell you how many times I've walked down these fairways dreaming about a chance to do this. There are no words to describe this."

Clark, bidding to become the first man since Gary Player to win back-to-back titles, was locked with Hugo in the lead as Immelman double-bogeyed the sixth to fall back.

But Immelman hit back with two birdies in the next three holes and four more on the way home to gradually reel in the leaders.

Hugo, a Challenge Tour player, bogeyed the 16th and double-bogeyed 17 to give Clark the outright lead, leaving Immelman needing a birdie at the last for a play-off.

Immelman drove under a tree before firing to 15 feet and holing the putt as Clark missed his birdie for the title.