MILAN, Italy -- Hennie Otto won his first European Tour title by shooting a 3-under 69 Sunday to hold off Oliver Wilson by one stroke at the Italian Open.

The South African had four birdies and a bogey at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club to finish at 25-under 263. Wilson, an Englishman, shot an 8-under 64, the best round of the day.

"It's great to win at last," said Otto, who failed to defend a five-shot advantage going into the final round of the Madeira Islands Open in March. "I have been working very hard on my putting and I don't think I've ever holed more long putts than I did this week."

European Ryder Cup veteran Robert Karlsson, who shot a course-record 61 Friday, had a 5-under 67 to finish third, two shots behind.

"It was a good try, I suppose, but I haven't really played that well over the weekend and that is why I have come up a bit short," the Swede said.

Two-time major champion John Daly (67) finished 12 shots behind at 275.

Otto, 31, lost in a playoff to Alastair Forsyth in Madeira in March, was caught again Sunday at the Italian Open by Wilson. But this time Otto responded by sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the 433-yard 13th, and then narrowly avoided a bunker with his final drive.

Needing a par 4 to win, he had to play his second shot with one foot in the sand and conjured up one of the shots of his life to six feet. He two-putted for his 69 and 25-under aggregate of 263, one outside the tournament record of Percy Alliss -- father of television commentator Peter -- way back in 1935.

For Wilson, the 27-year-old former Walker Cup player, his superb 64 meant a third runner-up finish of the season and a sixth in all. Yet to win, he was left to reflect on a moment of annoyance on Friday when he banged his putter against his bag and bent it.

Unable to use it the rest of the round, he actually made three birdies with a wedge on the greens, but his 69 was his worst score of the week.

At 22 under par after 54 holes, Otto was only one outside the European Tour record held by Ernie Els and David Howell.

He needed a 65 Sunday to equal Els' record 29 under at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, but understandably his focus was on achieving a win that gives him back his Tour membership.

Ranked 154th in the world, he has won seven times in his home country since turning professional 10 years ago, including a two-stroke victory over current Masters champion Trevor Immelman at the 2003 Sunshine Tour Championship.

But he received just as much publicity for an incident in the 2001 South African Masters when he was so disgusted by a round of 80 that he snapped each of his clubs in half and threw them in a river.

This was only his third European Tour event since then, but he did not look the same player as he stretched his four-shot overnight lead to five with three birdies in his first five holes. And after finding deep trouble off the tee at the difficult sixth and looking in danger of double bogeying, he rolled in a 50-footer for par.

But then it all changed. As Wilson completed a run of four successive birdies from the 11th -- and that after going to the turn in 32 -- Otto pitched into a bunker on the long 12th and took a 6. That brought them level and he went to break his putter over his knee, but Otto had time to regroup.

Nick Dougherty, who flew to the event after attending his mother's funeral on Tuesday, tied for 10th on 17 under after a 67.

"Maybe I've got tougher times to come, but I'm pleased I came and with what I've done here," said the 25-year-old from Liverpool.

After playing his first 10 holes in 6 under, he was in fifth spot and still thought there was a chance, but he covered the closing stretch in 1 over.

Paul Broadhurst finished his 500th European Tour event in a share for 12th.

"I thought I was under the lip of the bunker on the last, but when I saw where it finished I said to my caddie, 'let's just get this on the green, two-putt and go home'," Otto said. "It's great to win. I have been working very hard on my putting and I don't think I've ever holed more long putts than I did this week."

"Going out there I was 6 behind and just went to get second more than anything. I got it going, but I didn't quite hit it close enough on the last few holes to put real pressure on him," Wilson said.

"I shot 8 under, though, so I can't really complain. At the end of the day I want to win and I want to win badly, but if I keep getting into contention it is only a matter of time before it happens," he added. "I have played great this week and I am sure it will not be long. There are some big tournaments coming up, so we will see how I go in those."

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