Germany's Tobias Dier survived a nervous finish to win his first European Tour title in the North West of Ireland Open at Slieve Russell today.
Dier carded a final round 71 for a 17-under par total of 271 and a one-shot victory over Welshman Stephen Dodd with compatriot Mark Pilkington two shots further back in third.
Dodd, a former British amateur champion, had an eagle opportunity on the 18th to force a play-off but narrowly missed from 12 feet and had to settle for second, his best finish in 12 years as a professional.
Dier collected the first prize of Stg£36,535 and with it a potentially more valuable one-year tour exemption that secures his playing rights until the end of 2002.
The 24-year-old held a three-shot lead overnight after a superb 66 yesterday but saw that cushion slashed to just one after he bogeyed the fourth and playing partner Dodd birdied.
Dier, a biochemistry graduate from Nuremberg, swiftly made amends, however, with birdies at the next two holes and another at the ninth put him firmly in the driving seat.
Dodd's chances appeared to have disappeared when he bogeyed the 13th but he was given hope as Dier dropped shots at the 14th and 17th, a birdie for Dodd on the penultimate hole closing the gap to one shot again.
Both players found the green in two on the par five 18th but after Dier made certain of his birdie, Dodd's attempt for an eagle slid past the hole.
David Higgins was the top Irish golfer in the field, finishing seven shots off the pace on 10-under par.
[ Collated Scores ]