Zhang Lian-Wei created golfing history when he became the first Chinese player to win an event on the European Tour after a thrilling victory in the Caltex Singapore Masters, presented by Carlsberg, on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Asian PGA Tour member did what no-one else has been able to in 2003, namely beat Ernie Els, to triumph after a day of high drama in the sweltering heat of the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

According to reports, Zhang shot a two-under 70 on the final day for a four-day aggregate of 10-under 278, beating Els by one stroke. The genial South African, who was expected to wrap up his fourth straight title after the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the end of 2002 and the first two events of 2003 on the US PGA Tour, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open, closed with a one-over 73.

India's Arjun Atwal, who was the defending champion, shot a par round of 72 to tie for the 10th place at three-under 275. Among other Indians in the fray, Asia's No 1 player in 2002, Jyoti Randhawa shot a final day 73 to finish tied for the 38th place at two-over 290, while Amandeep Johl was in joint 60th place at seven-over 295 after a round of 75. Jeev Milkha Singh shot his second successive 80 to finish way down at tied 66th place at nine-over.

On a good day for the Asian PGA Tour, Thailand golfer Prayad Marksaeng took third place on 280 after a closing 71 while England's Simon Khan and Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands shared the fourth place on seven under par 281, after matching final round 70s.

"I'm very excited and very, very happy," said Zhang after his historic triumph. The bare statistics, however, do not do justice to an enthralling final day which, like all good thrillers, featured a wicked twist in the tail. Despite struggling to find his range on the greens and seeing his two shot lead at the start of the day evaporate before the turn, Els reached the 72nd hole one in front after Zhang pulled his tee shot left of the green on the demanding 202 yard 17th hole and made bogey four.

It was match point to the South African but on the 18th, he pushed his tee shot, the ball bouncing off a cart path and a tree before coming to rest in the rough. From there, Els's sand wedge approach came up short of the green before he pitched to five feet in three.

Across the other side of the fairway, Zhang's bold tee shot flirted with the water hazard before his majestic nine iron approach shot from 136 yards out came to rest a mere four feet from the hole.

Els putted first, and to gasps of disbelief from the galleries, saw his putt spin round the hole and stay above ground. Zhang knew then if he holed for birdie three he would win, and the Chinese golfer made no mistake.

Els, who will travel to Australia this week to defend his Heineken Classic title admitted he will take a couple of days break with his family before heading on to Royal Melbourne Golf Club. "I have to say that the heat eventually got to me a little bit," he said. "I felt a little bit tired towards the end and it was tough. But I take my hat off to Zhang. He stuck in well and didn't make any mistakes. But the way I putted, I let them all in a bit."