SUN CITY, South Africa – Australia's Robert Allenby kept his cool to win the Sun City Challenge on the third hole of a playoff at Gary Player Country Club on Sunday, pipping defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden.

Both players finished 72 holes in 11-under-par 277, Allenby shooting 71 in the final round and Stenson catching him with a 69. The pair then played the 18th hole three times before Allenby coolly hit a six-iron to within five feet of the flag to set up an easy par.

Stenson hit his approach shot into the grandstand, from where he had a free drop, but he could only pitch the ball 30 feet past the hole.

The world number seven had earlier three-putted the 18th hole in regulation play to make bogey. Allenby also bogeyed the last in regulation play after a poor chip from the fringe.

South African Tim Clark and England's Ross Fisher finished on 10-under-par 278, while overnight leader Retief Goosen fired a 75 in the final round, the loss of strokes at the par-five 14th and at the 18th costing him his second title.