SOUTH African Clinton Whitelaw won the Moroccan Open in Agadir yesterday with a thrilling finishing burst.

The strapping 26-year-old from Johannesburg finished birdie-eagle-par for a 69 and an 11 under par total of 277 that gave him a two-stroke margin over Roger Chapman and the Australians Darren Cole and Wayne Riley.

Raymond Burns (37th) and Padraig Harrington (38th) were Ireland's best, with Ronan Rafferty taking a share of 44th place on two over par.

On on an afternoon of unrelenting 85 degree sunshine, Whitelaw was one behind the two Australians and Chapman with three holes remaining, but he pounced with a birdie two at the 16th from 25 feet. He then opened his shoulders to reach the 511-yard 17th with a huge drive and five-iron before holing from 10 feet to jump two strokes clear.

Ahead lay the dangerous 18th with its narrow fairway and transverse green, but he carefully negotiated the problems with a two iron and an eight iron, and two putts secured a maiden European title worth over £58,000.

Chapman, five times a runner-up and second 10 times in all, reached 10 under par with a birdie at the 17th, but then overshot the final green, and failed to get up and down for his par.

Cole had set the nine under par target with a blistering last round 64. But he was also caught by Riley, who got home in 68, leaving England's David A Russell and Whitelaw as the most likely new champions.

The former got to 10 under with an eagle at the 10th and four birdies in the next five holes, but then went into sand at the 16th and 17th to slip back. He finished fifth with 280.

Harrington went out in 32 yesterday, with five birdies, to promise a top-10 place, but fell away to close with a 69 for 287 and a prize of £2,450 sterling.

Burns had an eagle three at the 10th in his 71 for 286, to earn £2,660 sterling, while Rafferty took home £1,890, his first cheque of the 1997 season.