MUNICH: Ernie Els of South Africa won the BMW International Open by one shot yesterday for his 28th European Tour title.

After sharing a three-way lead overnight, Els shot a third straight 3-under 69 in the final round to finish 18-under 270 on the Eichenried Golf Club course.

Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (69) was second at 17 under and Frenchman Alexander Levy (71) finished another stroke off the pace in third for his best finish.

Els, a two-time winner at both the US Open and British Open, led after the first and second rounds.

He is the first South African and also the oldest player to win the BMW International Open in the competition’s 25th edition.

“I’m a very young 43-year-old. There’s not a younger 43-year-old, I promise,” Els joked.

“I’ve tried a long time to try and win this golf tournament. I really had it going and then I made it tough for myself again,” he added, referring to his bogey on the 11th hole.

Els had started level with Levy and Sweden’s Alex Noren, but the Swede had two bogeys and fell out of contention while Els, Levy and Bjorn each made three birdies from their nine holes out.

Bjorn was tied for the lead with Els when a double bogey on the 14th hole, coming after a bogey on the 11th, effectively ended the Dane’s chances despite six birdies.

The 22-year-old Levy’s dreams of a first title disappeared with four bogeys in his first nine holes.

Noren (72) finished tied for fourth with home favorite and 2008 winner Martin Kaymer (69) and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger (68).

Defending champion Danny Willett of England (72) ended with an eagle for a share of 18th.

Thailand’s Pariya holds

nerve to win second Asian title

Meantime, Thailand’s Pariya Junhasavasdikul survived a few nervous moments in the closing stages but held on to secure a second Asian Tour title with a one-stroke victory at the Selangor Masters in Malaysia yesterday.

Pariya offset five birdies with four bogeys in his one-under-par 70 final round to finish on nine-under 275 for the tournament, held at the challenging Seri Selangor Golf Club.

India’s Anirban Lahiri posted a closing three-under-par 68 to finish second while South Korea’s Baek Seuk-hyun, who was leading at the 15th hole, shared third with Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul after a late collapse.

Pariya’s maiden Asian Tour title came at the Taiwan Masters in 2010 and the 29-year-old Thai said the closing stretch of holes had tested his composure to the limit.

“I’m still shaking right now. I can’t describe the feeling. Walking down the last three holes, there was tremendous pressure,” Pariya told reporters.

As Lahiri waited in the clubhouse a shot behind him, the Thai found a moment of calm as he stood over his final putt.

“I didn’t think about it too much. It was a downhill putt and all I had to do was to put a good stroke in. Luckily, I didn’t feel any pressure then. I kept to the routine and got it over with,” Pariya said after completing a wire-to-wire victory.

“It is difficult to convey exactly how much pressure you feel to lead by one shot from the first round to the last. Last night, I couldn’t sleep. I started thinking what would happen if I won. And then it dawned on me that I hadn’t won yet.

“I reminded myself that I still had to play 18 holes and it took the pressure off a bit.”

Baek, who was in the final group with Pariya, slipped out of contention with a double bogey on the 16th and another dropped shot on the next.

“I got tired and felt under pressure from the 15th. I couldn’t hit the ball properly,” the Thailand-based Korean said.

Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand closed with his best round of the week, a one-under-par 70, but could only finish in a tie for 46th on eight-over for the tournament.