SPANISH rookie Alvaro Quiros came from behind to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by one stroke at Leopard Creek yesterday.
The unheralded Quiros shot a five-under-par 67 for a total score of 13-under-par 275 overall, pipping long-time leader, Charl Schwartzel.
Schwartzel, the 2004 winner, was one shot behind the Spaniard playing the last, but deposited his second shot on the par-five 18th into the water surrounding the notorious green, effectively killing his chances of forcing a play-off.
Quiros sealed his victory with a remarkable putt for eagle from 65 feet on the 18th which shaved the hole, leaving him with a simple tap-in for birdie.
"I have not been hitting the ball very straight off the tee and Saturday was terrible, I was pulling everything," said Quiros.
"But with my putting, which has been very poor the last five months, I didn't miss.
"And when I have a six-iron in my hand I think I can do anything, I don't use it as an umbrella."
Britons Lee Westwood and Mark Pilkington, tied for second two strokes behind Schwartzel at the start of the final round, both endured frustration on the course.
Westwood finished third on nine-under-par, four behind Quiros, after a one-over-par 73, while Pilkington shot a 75.
The Welshman tied for seventh after his round was destroyed by three successive double-bogeys from the seventh to the ninth holes.
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