England's Neil Cheetham lost out to home hope Charl Schwartzel in a play-off to decide which of the two would win his first European Tour title, in the dunhill Championship at South Africa's Leopard Creek Country Club.

Worksop golfer Cheetham was denied when Schwartzel birdied the first play-off hole of a tournament in which the Englishman had looked well-placed for victory throughout.

Schwartzel, tipped as the player to follow in South African greats Ernie Els and Retief Goosen's footsteps on the international golfing scene, finally fulfilled his promise by holding his nerve on a tense last few holes and then the crucial play-off.

The 20-year-old former English Amateur Open Strokeplay champion said: "It's an unbelievable feeling, indescribable."

"This is something I've always worked for, and to finally break through is an amazing feeling.

"I could have made it easier for myself, two-putting on 17 and 18. But there is a lot of pressure out there, and it is difficult."

Cheetham was in unbelievably good spirits afterwards - in stark contrast to many other players who had disappointment at Malelane.

Until recently a club professional in Sheffield, he once again displayed the disarming humour which has characterised his approach this week.

"I'm still feeling pretty good," he said.

"I've had a fantastic week and really enjoyed it. Charl deserved it, because he had a fantastic up-and-down. I didn't hit the ball particularly well today.

"I got off to a good start but then just lost my way a little bit on the front nine. I pulled the last stroke a bit - it was a bad one. To be honest, I rolled the ball very badly this week - and it will have to improve."

Schwartzel's win came at the end of an afternoon of high drama when several players had chances but failed to capitalise under the warm African sun.

Scot Euan Little was the first to fall back when he plugged his approach shot on the 18th into the water - while another Brit, Oliver Whiteley, missed an eagle putt from four feet out which would have put him into the play-off.

Ditto for tournament favourite Els, who also missed an eagle on the 18th and had to be content with a share of third place.

But Cheetham and Schwartzel went head to head over the final holes.

The eventual champion missed a birdie attempt on the 17th; then drifted the return to the right to drop a shot back to seven under.

Cheetham dropped shots on both the 15th and 16th to putts which he left short from 10 feet.

But eventually when the key final hole arrived Cheetham sank his birdie putt to ensure he would have another chance to claim his first title.

While Cheetham went down the middle with his tee shot on the play-off, Schwartzel pulled his right.

The South African then produced a beauty of an approach into the green which stopped just a foot short of the water at the back of the green.

Cheetham's approach was well short of the flag at the front of the green. The Englishman then left his putt 12 feet short, and Schwartzel chipped in to seven feet from the pin - leaving his opponent too much to do to save the play-off with his final putt.

"I knew I shouldn't leave the putt short - but I just couldn't hit it harder," said Cheetham.

"I didn't have the nerve. I knew the line and I knew the speed - but I just couldn't sink it."

Collated fourth round scores and totals in the dunhill championship, Leopard Creek GC, South Africa

(Gbr and Irl unless stated, par 72):

281 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 71 69 70 71 (Won playoff at first available hole), Neil Cheetham 68 71 69 73

282 Oliver Whiteley 72 67 72 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 67 75 70 70, Warren Abery (Rsa) 69 70 73 70

283 David Frost (Rsa) 70 70 69 74, Marcel Siem (Ger) 76 69 71 67

284 Graeme Storm 73 68 75 68, Euan Little 71 69 72 72, Damien McGrane 74 68 72 70

285 Michael Kirk (USA) 71 72 69 73, Tim Clark (USA) 77 68 73 67

286 Richard Finch 72 69 72 73

287 Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 74 71 72, Desmond Terblanche (Rsa) 69 70 76 72, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 75 72 68 72

288 Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 70 71 78 69, Ian Garbutt 71 72 76 69, Leif Westerberg (Swe) 70 70 76 72, Iain Steel (Mal) 70 73 75 70, Garry Houston (Wal) 80 68 69 71, Mark Murless (Rsa) 76 69 73 70

289 Matthew Morris 72 72 73 72, Lee Slattery 73 69 77 70, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 69 72 78 70, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 69 74 69

290 Bruce McDonald (Zim) 66 76 73 75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 74 73 70 73, Mark Davis 70 72 72 76, Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 72 75 72 71, Andre Bossert (Swi) 74 72 72 72

291 Peter Lawrie 75 67 75 74, Phillip Archer 73 71 75 72, Grant Muller 76 71 72 72, Roope Kakko (Fin) 73 74 75 69, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 69 68 79 75, Joachim Backstrom (Swe) 71 77 71 72, Michael Lamb (Zim) 72 70 78 71

292 Stephen Browne 76 71 76 69, Sam Little 72 71 80 69, Titch Moore (Rsa) 72 76 73 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 71 70 73 78, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 72 69 78 73, Alan Michell (Rsa) 72 76 70 74, Keith Horne (Rsa) 71 72 72 77, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 73 71 75 73, Matthew King 75 73 72 72

293 Lindani Ndwandwe (Rsa) 70 71 73 79, Johan Skold (Swe) 74 74 73 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 72 72 72 77, Matthew Blackey 77 71 74 71, Paul Bradshaw 73 71 76 73, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 70 71 77 75, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 73 71 76 73

294 Sammy Daniels (Rsa) 76 71 72 75, Bertrand Cornut (Fra) 74 71 75 74, Raphael Eyraud (Fra) 68 78 75 73, Chris Davison (Rsa) 72 73 76 73, Liam Bond 78 70 74 72

295 Andre Cruse (Rsa) 70 72 76 77, Bobby Lincoln (Rsa) 71 74 77 73, Omar Sandys (Rsa) 79 68 73 75

296 Jan Are Larsen (Nor) 74 74 73 75, Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 68 78 77 73, Nico Le Grange (Rsa) 71 74 76 75, Sarel Son-Houi (Fra) 69 73 78 76, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 72 74 77

297 David Patrick 75 72 75 75, Oliver Wilson 69 73 76 79

298 Stuart Manley 74 72 75 77

299 Callie Swart (Rsa) 71 76 77 75, Ryan Tipping (Rsa) 72 74 75 78, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 72 75 78 74, Julien Clement (Swi) 73 73 80 73

300 Steve Basson (Rsa) 74 72 76 78

301 Ryan Reid (Rsa) 75 69 82 75, Brett Liddle (Rsa) 74 74 77 76

312 James Kamte (Rsa) 68 76 84 84