However, Lipsky held on and a birdie on the par-five last saw him home by two shots as he completed his round in 68 to finish 14 under par - ahead of Scotland's David Drysdale - and seal his second European Tour title.

Lipsky was one shot behind third-round leader Scott Jamieson ahead of the fourth round but recorded seven birdies and one bogey - and that double-bogey on the 16th - to edge ahead on Sunday.

He told www.europeantour.com: "This was a tough year for me. I haven't played that well and have really struggled.

"To cap it off with a win at the end of the year is so special and I'm really looking forward to big things in 2019.

"It's indescribable actually. Winning is what we all hope to do, it's what we practise for, it's what we all put the time in for - the blood, sweat and tears."

Drysdale finished with the joint-best score of the day as he completed the final round alongside South Africa's Jean-Paul Strydom with a 67.

The Scot recorded six birdies and one bogey to finish runner-up with home favourite Zander Lombard and Drysdale's compatriot Jamieson a shot further back in joint third.

English duo Oliver Wilson and Ben Evans ended the weekend in a share for fifth as both finished with a score of 69 to sit six shots off the lead.

Sweden's Niklas Lemke and 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen were a stroke further back ahead of another South African in Oliver Bekker, who finished in a three-way tie for ninth with Spanish duo Adria Arnaus and Pablo Larrazabal.

Day three report

Scotland's Scott Jamieson will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after posting a 68 on Saturday.

The 35-year-old carded an eagle, five birdies, one bogey and a double bogey in a mixed third round to move to 11 under par, one shot ahead of closest challenger David Lipsky.

Home favourites Zander Lombard and Brandon Stone were in a tie for third a further two strokes back on eight under.

Jamieson, who is chasing his second European Tour title, came into the day one shot behind halfway leader Lipsky but soon set about closing the gap.

He carded two birdies and a single bogey on his front nine to reach the turn in 34, while Lipsky sandwiched one birdie between two bogeys in his first nine holes.

Jamieson found himself in possession of a three-shot lead after following up a brilliant eagle at the par-four 11th with a birdie on the 13th.

But a disappointing double bogey at the 14th and an eagle from Lipsky on the 15th saw that advantage wiped out completely as both men were locked at 10 under.

There was then a three-shot swing in the Scot's favour on the short 16th as bunker trouble saw American Lipsky run up a double bogey, while Jamieson curled in his eight-foot birdie putt to jump to 11 under.

But as Jamieson safely parred his way home, Lipsky closed his round with back-to-back birdies to sign for a 70 and reduce the deficit to one.

Day two report

David Lipsky fired a 66 to take a one-shot lead on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Championship but he had four Scotsmen breathing down his neck at Leopard Creek Country Club.

The American registered four birdies and an eagle to get to eight under but Scott Jamieson and Marc Warren were just a shot back, with David Drysdale and Doug McGuigan then at six under.

Jamieson and Drysdale both came close to losing their places on the European Tour last season, while Warren lost his and had to go back to the Qualifying School, with all three men looking to bounce back in the wraparound 2019 season.

McGuigan is a veteran of the South African Sunshine Tour and the 48-year-old rolled back the years with seven birdies on the back nine as he made nine consecutive one-putts.

Starting on the 10th, Lipsky made a birdie on the 11th and an eagle on the 13th before adding further gains on the 16th, second and third.

"I played really well," he told europeantour.com. "I actually didn't hit it that great today but my putting and chipping was amazing. I got the job done and tied it up and I'm looking forward to the weekend."

Jamieson made five birdies in six holes from the 13th in a 66, while Drysdale recorded four birdies and a bogey in a 69.

A holed bunker-shot on the eighth was the highlight of Warren's 67 and he was delighted to be playing well again after his disappointing 2018 season.

"I think I learned a lot that week (at Qualifying School)," he said. "I thought it was going to be a long week so I kind of surprised myself.

"I felt like I just played golf, purely. I just played the shots I felt I could play. I felt like I was playing golf again as opposed to playing golf swing so I'm just trying to take that approach into the new season."

England's Oliver Wilson and defending champion Brandon Stone were in the group at five under.

Day one report

Days after securing a Web.com Tour card in the United States, Oliver Bekker returned home to take the lead in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The South African coped best with changes made to toughen up Leopard Creek with a round of 66 in which he made just one mistake, which came at the par-three seventh.

Four birdies in succession from the 11th more than made up for that solitary bogey and while unable to take advantage of the two par-fives at holes 15 and 18, he nonetheless ended Thursday on his own in first place.

Dylan Frittelli had been on course to challenge Bekker's score before coming unstuck at the last, running up a double-bogey at the risk-reward closing hole which has been a favourite on the European Tour.

The world number 77 instead settled for a round of 69, three off the pace and part of a big group which includes 2016 champion Brandon Stone, who was delighted with his ball-striking.

Australia's Dimitrios Papadatos sits alone in second after a five-under 67, with Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin carding a four-under 68 which included birdies at all four par-fives.

Fresh from his SA Open success last week, Louis Oosthuizen opened with a round of 71 to sit five off the pace with regular Leopard Creek contender Charl Schwartzel two shots further adrift.