South African golfer Branden Grace shot a final-round three-under 69 on Sunday to win the China Open by three shots.

The 23-year-old Grace started the round with a three-shot lead over 2011 winner Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium and maintained that lead to finish at 21-under 267.

Colsaerts sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the ninth to briefly close to within two shots but he three-putted the next hole for his first bogey in 34 holes to fall back to three behind.

Colsaerts also closed with a 69 to finish second at 18 under. England’s Richard Finch was third a shot further back after carding a closing 66.

It was Grace’s third European Tour victory of 2012 after back-to-back wins in January at the Johannesburg Open and Volvo Champions events in South Africa.

Marcus Fraser was the best-placed Australian, finishing in a tie for seventh six strokes behind Grace after a last-round 70.