SUN CITY, South Africa: Danny Willett spoiled Luke Donald’s birthday with a final-round 66 to charge past his English compatriot and win the Nedbank Golf Challenge by four shots on Sunday.

Willett claimed his second European Tour title ahead of Ross Fisher (68), while overnight leader Donald slipped to third in an all-English top three at Sun City.

Willett had an impressive amateur career but had won just once on the tour — at the BMW International Open in 2012 — before his $1.25 million payday at the first event of the 2015 European season. The 27-year-old Willett made six birdies and no bogeys on the final day and finished with weekend rounds of 65 and 66 for an 18-under-par total of 270 at Gary Player Country Club.

“Just one of them weeks where the swing felt good and it came off,” said Willett, who had just three bogeys all week.

The former top-ranked Donald, seeking a first title in more than a year, couldn’t quite celebrate his 37th birthday in style and ended with a 73 with four bogeys. He was six shots behind Willett.

“A lot of positives,” Donald said. “It’s nice to put myself back in position. I could have played a bit better but I still would have had to shoot 5 under just to tie with Danny.”

Willett trailed Donald by one heading into the final round, but had three birdies in his first five holes on Sunday to surge ahead and he led to the end.

Willett’s chasers had a glimpse of hope when he missed the green at No. 14, leaving himself with a tricky chip over a bunker back to the hole. But the former top-ranked European amateur recovered so well that he still made birdie, and Fisher and Donald saw their hopes slip away.

Willett shoots to the top of the new European Order of Merit standings.

Behind Donald, Germany’s Marcel Siem was alone in fourth on 9 under, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat was fifth and Spanish veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez completed a solid weekend with back-to-back 69s for sixth.


Harrington wins Indonesia Open

In Jakarta, Irishman Padraig Harrington toppled a battling Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand by two shots to win the Bank BRI Indonesia Open on Sunday.

The three-time Major winner held a four-shot lead at the start of the final round but stumbled at the turn in 37 as Thanyakon birdied three in his opening five holes to lead by two shots after nine holes.

Harrington clawed his way back up after a two-hour rain suspension at the Damai Indah Golf-PIK Course near Jakarta to tie with Thanyakon heading into the 18th hole.

Under strong pressure to win his first Asian Tour title, the 24-year-old Thai hit his second shot into the water for a double bogey.

Harrington sealed the win with a 15-foot par putt after taking a penalty drop when his tee shot landed on the edge of the hazard.

“Winning is a good habit to have. It gives you a lot of confidence and I need that confidence,” said Harrington in comments supplied by the organizers.

He signed for an even-par 71 and a winning total of 16-under-par 268 to win $135,000.

“I didn’t start too well but I came through and I got the win. This win brings a lot of confidence to my game and hopefully it will show up next year,” he added.

A dejected Thanyakon, who posted a 69, had struggled to hold his nerve on the 18th hole in the $750,000 Asian Tour event.

“It was a great final round from me but I was under so much pressure on the last hole. I’m still happy with how I played,” he said.

David Lipsky of the United States extended his Order of Merit lead by slightly over $133,518 after finishing sixth. Merit runner-up Anirban Lahiri of India stumbled to a tied 15th place after closing with a triple bogey.