Germany’s Tobias Dier became the eighth first-time winner on the 2001 European Tour International Schedule when he captured the North West of Ireland Open by finishing a stroke ahead of playing partner Stephen Dodd of Wales.
Dier, who last year shot a course record 65 on his way to finishing fourth in this event, continued his love affair with the Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf and Country Club, shooting a closing 71 for a 17 under par total of 271 to finish one clear of Dodd with Mark Pilkington, also of Wales, a further two shots adrift.
The 24 year old rookie from Nurnberg becomes only the fourth German to win on The European Tour, following the illustrious footsteps of Bernhard Langer, Alex Cejka and Sven Struver.
Dier, who graduated from the 2000 Challenge Tour, won 58,330 euro (£36,535) - the biggest cheque of his fledgling professional career - and earns a one year exemption on The European Tour for winning this double badge event which counts to both The European Tour and Challenge Tour.
The manner in which he won belied his position of 145th in the Volvo Order of Merit and from the outset looked to be the man to beat. Rounds of 66, 68 and 66 opened a three shot cushion going into the final day..
Dodd briefly closed the gap to just one shot with a birdie on the par three fourth hole as Dier bogeyed, but the German pulled clear again with back to back birdies on the next two holes and then moved four clear with a third birdie of the round, holing from six feet on the ninth.
After bogeying the 15th Dier remained three ahead and seemed destined for his first title until the 17th where he bogeyed as Dodd birdied to close the gap to a solitary shot playing the par five last.
Dier played his approach first, hitting a two iron 220 metres to 30 feet but Dodd followed with the same club to 15 feet to set up a dramatic finale. The German putted first, leaving his putt dead for a birdie four but Dodd still had the chance to take the tournament into a play-off. His putt looked good but didn’t turn as much as he thought and narrowly slipped by to leave Dier with the simplest of tap-ins to claim the title.
“This means a great deal to me,” said Dier. “This is my first win on the European Tour and it gives me an exemption to next year as a tournament winner which means I can really plan the year and play every tournament I want. That is what I wanted.
“I knew coming down the last I was still one ahead. It was still my job to do it. I didn’t have to rely on anyone else making a mistake. Stephen had to hope I made a mistake. It was a par five and I was playing the par fives well. I thought a long iron suits my game and thought make a birdie or even an eagle and it was mine. But I was very relieved when he didn’t make his putt.
“When I turned pro o gave myself three years to get on the European Tour which I did. When everyone asked me my plans for this season I said I wanted to win a tournament which I have now done.
“The next thing is to win a big event on the European Tour, maybe one in Germany. That is the next step for me. I want to compete with the great players.”
Dodd, the 1989 Amateur Champion, was denied his maiden title but his runners-up finishes still represents his best position on The European Tour, surpassing his joint third finish in the Madeira Island Open earlier this year, and went a long way to securing his card for next season as he climbed from 124th in the Volvo Order of Merit to 98th.
“I played nicely for the week,” he said. “I had a chance on the last. Hit a good putt and slightly misread it. I made a birdie to a bogey on the 17th and all of a sudden there was only one stroke in it and I had a chance. But the putt on the last didn’t move as much as I thought and just slipped past.
“I’m obviously pleased. I might need a little bit more to make certain of my card but this is a big lift and makes life a little easier.”
Pilkington continued his string run of form by following his joint fourth place finish last week in Wales with a third place finish this week to climb to 121st in the Volvo Order of Merit while James Hepworth of England and Mattias Eliasson of Sweden shared fourth place on 11 under par.
