Chris Paisley produced a brilliant blemish-free round to win the South African Open by three strokes and earn a maiden European Tour victory.

The Englishman led home favourite Branden Grace by just one after Saturday's third round, but did not record a single bogey on his way to a six-under 66 that left him 21 under for the tournament.

Paisley was three under by the turn, and made further gains at the 10th, 13th and 15th holes on the way home to hold off the challenge of Grace.

Grace paid the price for a mixed round, which included eagles at the second and 13th, but also a costly double bogey at the sixth and a further dropped shot at 12.

The 29-year-old had started his round with a birdie and an eagle to briefly lead, and a four-under 68 completed a decent weekend.

JC Ritchie surged up the leaderboard as a 65 saw him finish outright third, while further down 2011 champion Hennie Otto shot the low round of the day - an eight-under 64 that yielded 10 birdies and two bogeys.