AAMBY VALLEY CITY, India -- South Africa's Hendrik Buhrmann ended a 11-year wait to win his maiden title in Asia, seizing the inaugural $400,000 Aamby Valley Asian Masters on Sunday.

After being embroiled for much of the day in a tense battle for the lead, Buhrmann arrived at the 18th tee with a two-shot cushion and made no errors for a 1-under 71 for the day and an 11-under 277 total to grab the $63,400 winner's check.

England's Simon Hurd, who wore a different colored porkpie hat on each of the tournament's four days, slipped with a double bogey on the 17th hole and ended second with a 73 on the final day and a 9-under 279 total.

Ashok Kumar (76), who was in sole possession of the lead with seven holes to go, slipped badly to drop out of contention. He finished tied for fifth at 4-under 284 with Garth Mulroy (72), Kane Webber (75) and Simon Griffiths (77).

Kumar dropped seven shots, including two doubles and one bogey, on the last three holes.

India had two other players in the top 10, as Rahil Gangjee (70) and Gaurav Ghei (75) tied for ninth.

After a tense fight over the first 12 holes, Kumar began giving away too many shots and Hurd dropped a double bogey on the 17th, leaving veteran Buhrmann with a comfortable win.

"I'm feeling great," said Burhmann, who has always yearned for success in Asia. "I said earlier in the year to some people that you know what, my dream is to win on the Asian Tour before I die ... I've got my dream come true. I'm really happy."

Australian Terry Pilkadaris (70) finished third at 280, while compatriot Marcus Both (72) took fourth with a 283.

Kumar, a former caddie who earned just $2 a day, turned pro in 2002 and was a favorite to win the title until the third round. He said he was disappointed on the final day.

"I thought I played good golf for three days and even after the front nine I was very much in there," he said. "But what really got me was the bogey on the par-5 12th. Then I had a three-putt on the 16th for a double bogey. One of the big letdowns over the last two days was my putting. I need to work on that a lot."

Buhrmann, who was tied for the overnight lead with Hurd and Kumar, battled gamely under tough and windy conditions. At the end, it was a par save on the seventh and a superb eagle on the 12th which proved crucial.

"I hit my 3-wood second shot into out of bounds on the seventh and it didn't come off and I said: 'Come on, you can do that,"' Buhrmann said. "I dropped another ball and hit the same shot again which was probably the shot that turned the whole game around."

Hurd, a former regular on the European Tour, took home $43,400. "The double on 17 did me in. I hit a great tee shot and went five yards into the rough and I had no shot. But to be fair, Hendrik deserves it."

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