South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Africa Open at East London Golf Club on a score of twenty under par, with compatriot Thomas Aiken finishing second on nineteen under.

Charl, who is currently using his father's putter, put together rounds of 67, 70, 68 and 67 with his only bogey coming at the final hole after a wayward tee shot. This is Charl's first win for two years on the European Tour with his previous victory being the 2008 Madrid Masters.

"There's no better place than East London and it's one of the oldest and most traditional courses in South Africa", said Schwartzel who added "you can't ask for a better start than this to the year".

Schwartzel now holds the top spot in the European Tour Race To Dubai.

ISM Stablemate Thomas Aiken, joint leader going into the final day fired rounds of 67, 67, 69 and 70. A double bogey six on the fifth hole of the last round saw him drop back but he then birdied three of the last nine holes to claim second place.

Branden Grace shot a final round 66 to put him on sixteen under par and in a tie for 8th alongside James Kingston.

Darren Clarke, playing in his first event of 2010 finished in a tie for 28th on twelve under par alongside Joost Luiten who plays on the European Tour this year under a medical exemption.

Elsewhere in the world Asia took on Europe in the Royal Trophy at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand where Simon Dyson was part of Colin Montgomerie's European Team who won the contest eight and a half points to seven and a half points. Jeev Milkha Singh played in the Asian Team and in the final day singles beat Robert Karlsson by two and one.