Final day stumble for Aiken

Thomas Aiken threw away a good start to his final round at the Alfred Dunhill Championship by handing the advantage to Len Mattiace on the final afternoon at the Leopard Creek Golf Club.

The South African, who started round four of the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event with a one-stroke lead over the rest of the field, made two birdies in his opening four holes to stretch his lead to four shots at one point.

But bogeys on the par-four ninth and 10th holes, followed by a double bogey on the 11th, saw him slip to two over par for his round, and an overall score of 16 under par, one shot behind Mattiace.

The American also struggled in his final round, but made up for his two bogeys by picking up shots on the second and 11th holes to remain level-par through his round – 17 under for the championship – with seven holes to play.

Englishman David Lynn also kept himself in contention on 16 under after mixing four birdies with two bogeys through 12, with Johan Edfors, Oskar Henningsson and Rafael Cabrera Bello, all of whom were still out on the course, a further stroke back on 15 under.

The best clubhouse score of the day was a 66 made by the 2007 South African Open champion James Kingston and Alan McLean.

The Rustenburg golfer, who will be defending his national Open title next week, shot eight birdies in his final round, but a loss of concentration on the par-five 15th saw him drop two shots on his way to a tournament total of seven-under 281.

Scotsman McLean was on course for an even lower score after shooting a 30 on the front nine, but a bogey among two birdies on the back nine saw him finish with a 36 – a combined total of 274.

World number 10 Lee Westwood was on 12 under for the competition with three birdies and a bogey after 14 holes leaving him two under for the day.