Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke proved that it's not how you start but how you finish in the Africa Open at East London Golf Club.

As McGrane came back from two over par after 27 holes, closing with a 68 to finish inside the Top 30 on eight under, Clarke racked up a quintuple bogey 10 at the par-five first and bogeyed the second but kept his cool and posted a 76 to finish the tournament at level par.

The Ryder Cup skipper horseshoed out for a nine, losing three balls on the opening hole on a day when overnight leader Trevor Fisher Jnr added to a 64 to his third round 63 to win by five shots from Matt Ford (67).

The South African kept up a proud tradition that has seen South Africa players win the first six stagings of the tournament.

He earned €166,059 for the win as McGrane took home €8,926 but remains outside the Top 110 in the Race to Dubai at 133rd. 

As for first round leader Kevin Phelan, the Waterford Castle man finished tied for 60th after adding rounds of 72, 74 and 72 to his opening 67. He picked up €2,934 to lie a provisional 55th in the money list.