South Africa's Hennie Otto claimed his first European Tour title as he won the Italian Open in Milan.
Otto let a five-shot lead slip for the second time in four starts, but held his nerve to triumph by one shot over Englishman Oliver Wilson.
Needing a par four on the last to win, the 31-year-old played a great shot to within six feet and holed to clinch it.
Otto finished with a 25-under aggregate of 263 - one outside Percy Alliss's 1935 tournament record.
He needed a 65 to equal Els' record 29 under at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth but slipped back with a six at the 12th.
However, following his win, a relieved Otto said: "I thought I was under the lip of the bunker on the last.
"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"
"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."
Swede Robert Karlsson, who set a course record of 61 on Friday, finished in third and joint fourth were England's Phillip Archer and German Marcel Siem.
For Wilson, the 27-year-old former Walker Cup player from Mansfield, a superb 64 meant a third runners-up finish of the season and a sixth in all.
But he will regret damaging his putter by banging it against his bag in frustration on Friday, after which he was forced to use a wedge on the greens.
Former Open champion John Daly closed with a 67 to claim joint-23rd spot for his best performance for some time.
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