Tim Clark became only the third South African to win the Australian Open when he beat Mathew Goggin on the first play-off hole. A stunned Clark claimed the title after overnight leader David Smail let his advantage ebb away.

And he sealed victory when Goggin missed his par putt the 18th green at the Royal Sydney course.

"I'm a bit stunned - I hate to win like that, you know it's nice for someone to win it with a birdie," Clark told reporters.

For much of the day a play-off had looked highly unlikely as Smail held a comfortable three-shot lead.

However, a disastrous run over the 15th and 16th holes when he had consecutive double bogeys saw the New Zealander drop behind Clark and Goggin, and he was never able to recover.

Smail's trouble started with a wayward tee shot at the par-four 15th and when he again found the trees at 16, forcing him to chip out into the fairway, his chances of victory quickly faded.

Smail eventually finished on eight-under alongside two-time winner Robert Allenby, whose expected challenge never materialised, and halfway leader Stephen Dartnall.

Clark started the day seven shots behind Smail but fired a five under-par round of 67 to put the pressure on those still out on the course.

He bagged seven birdies in his opening 13 holes but his campaign appeared over when he dropped three shots in consecutive holes, starting with a double bogey from the greenside bunker at the 13th.

The 32-year-old, however, steadied and posted two closing birdies to set a competitive total.

Goggin, runner-up in last week's Australian PGA Championship on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, went almost unnoticed for much of the final round but his closing three-under 69 was enough to force the play-off.