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Kingston defeats Hansen in Mercedes playoff

  • Story Highlights
  • South African James Kingston wins the Mercedes-Benz Championship title
  • The 43-year-old defeats Denmark's Anders Hansen in a sudden-death playoff
  • It is Kingston's second Tour success after win in the 2007 South African Open
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(CNN) -- South African James Kingston has won the Mercedes-Benz Championship title in Cologne on Sunday after beating Denmark's Anders Hansen in a sudden-death playoff.

James Kingston shows off his trophy after winning a playoff to claim the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

James Kingston shows off his trophy after winning a playoff to claim the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Both players had finished on 13-under-par 275 for the tournament, but it was the 43-year-old who held his nerve at the first extra hole to claim his second European Tour title.

The victory, his first since the 2007 South African Open, was a welcome relief for Kingston who had missed his last four tournament cuts.

Kingston became the oldest winner of the European Tour season thanks to a four-foot par putt on the first extra hole -- after Hansen had gone over the green into a bunker.

Kingston had shot a closing 69 to Hansen's 67 for their final 18 holes.

England's Simon Dyson, Swede Peter Hanson and another Danish player, Soren Hansen, all finished joint third a shot behind the leading duo.

Dyson, winner of the Dutch Open last month, had the best chance of making the playoff, but he left his 20-foot attempt just short.

English pair Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher could have gone third on The Race to Dubai by finishing fourth and first respectively, but neither did enough.

Westwood's 68 gave him a share of eighth place while Fisher was four strokes further back in a tie for 18th.

England's Chris Wood, who did not have a bogey in the first 47 holes and was on course for his first Tour title at that point, dropped back to 12th, while Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie is still seeking his first top 10 finish since June last year after finishing 34th.

Kingston told reporters he did not even know if he had earned a place in the tournament, let alone thinking of winning it.

"A week ago I didn't even know I was in the event. I would probably have spent a few more days at home this week, but it shows how things can change.

"I spoke to the lady who does my travel arrangements and she asked what I was doing. I said I wasn't playing and she replied 'What do you mean? You're in.' One minute you don't think you are playing and the next you win it."

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