Peter Hanson kept his Ryder Cup dream alive by producing a birdie on the 16th to set up a three-way play-off with Gary Boyd and Peter Lawrie in the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort in Čeladná.
Going into his last three holes, the Swede, who will secure a place in the all-important top nine of Europe’s Ryder Cup race with victory, was one shot behind Boyd and Lawrie, who had both finished on ten under par.
However, he held his nerve to birdie the 16th and move level with the duo, who produced brilliant performances.
The 32-year-old, who had not bogeyed in 29 holes prior his final round, produced three in a row on the par four second, par three third and par four fourth as he made a disastrous start to his final round.
However, he showed great heart to birdie the fifth and move into the joint lead in the process, before Boyd birdied eight.
Determined not to be beaten, Hanson birdied the tenth to claim the outright lead on 11 under par, before a disastrous double bogey on the 12th allowed Lawrie to leapfrog him.
But after his birdie on the 16th, he went into the final hole knowing another would win him the tournament. A poor second shot meant he could only shoot par, though, setting up a thrilling finale.
Irishman Lawrie started the day six shots behind Hanson, who was 12 under par, but went on to produce a scintillating round of 66 to fire himself into contention.
He had a magical run of four birdies and an eagle around the turn ensured he finished on ten under.
Little-known European Tour rookie Boyd, aiming to become the youngest winner of the event at 23 years and 322 days, was six shots behind going into the final day, but produced a brilliant display, especially on the front nine, to move into the joint lead.
The Englishman birdied five of his first eight holes to turn in 31, before three-putting the 11th as the tension built.
He repeated the mistake, three-putting again on the short 15th to hand the outright lead to Lawrie just as he made a three-foot par putt on the last for a ten under target.
However, he showed character which defies his years to produce the birdie he required to tie the lead on the 18th.
Meanwhile, Simon Dyson and Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who went into the final round with hopes of boosting their own chances of earning a place in Colin Montgomorie’s European team, were unable to mount any pressure on the leaders, finishing on eight under and seven under respectively.
