Peter Hanson produced a brilliant putt to claim victory in his Czech Open three way play-off against Gary Boyd and Peter Lawrie, moving into the all important top nine of the European Ryder Cup team rankings in the process.
After all three players shot par on the first hole of the play-off, the Swede holed an 18 footer when they played it again - the 18th hole of the Prosper Golf Resort course in Čeladná - to secure the €333,330 prize money and give himself a great chance of playing in Colin Montgomerie’s team.
There is just one event remaining for his rivals to secure a place in the top-nine, with Hanson, who was not even in the penultimate event of the year long race until he received an invitation last Monday, looking comfortable at eight.
"It was really tough day and I was a bit tense coming out," he said. "It turned out in the end that both me Miguel (Angel Jiménez) and Simon Dyson who had so much to play for didn’t play our best, but I managed to scrape it round the back nine and make that birdie on 16 to get into the play off.
"It means so much to get in the top nine. Coming here on a late invitation and coming here on Monday.
"I knew if I was going to have any chance I need to win and it is so hard knowing that you have to win.
"I put myself in a great position yesterday and I’m feeling absolutely great that I managed to do it."
The play-off was set up by brilliant performances from Englishman Boyd and Irishman Lawrie, who carded 68 and 66 respectively to unexpectedly put themselves into contention.
Their performance was so good that, going into his last three holes, Hanson, who was the overnight leader on 12 under par, was one shot behind them.
However, the 32 year old held his nerve to birdie the 16th and move level with the duo, setting up the exciting finale.
Hanson, 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 shocking 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 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.
Lawrie started the day six shots behind Hanson but went on to produce a scintillating round to fire himself into the shake-up.
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.
He 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, Dyson and Jiménez, who went into the final round with hopes of boosting their own chances of earning a place in the European team, were unable to mount any pressure on the leaders, finishing on eight and seven under respectively.
