Alexander Levy secured his first European Tour title after a turbulent final round at the Volvo China Open.
The Frenchman became the 20th different winner of the event in its 20th staging despite seeing a five shot lead reduced to one on the back nine.
A strong finish form the 23 year old saw him card a closing 69 for a 19 under par total – four clear of England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Having started the day three clear, Levy looked to be strolling towards the kind of decisive victory he eventually produced for much of the final round, before a messy double bogey at the 15th threatened to derail his chances.
However, birdies at the 17th and 18th saw him cross the line in style and collect the €389,150 winner’s cheque.
Asked about his blip at the 15th, Levy said: “I didn’t feel pressure - it was a difficult putt, difficult pin position, my ball was in the divot. It was a difficult shot, I made double bogey but I knew I was playing well and I was only thinking about my game.
“I hit one of my best shots on 17. I didn’t feel pressure on the golf course because I’m confident.
“I just played my golf and focussed on the target. I saw Tommy made a birdie on the 17th but I like the pressure.”
Levy had done the bulk of his work with a course record 62 on Friday at Genzon Golf Club, and after starting the final round with five straight pars saw his advantage reduced to two as Fleetwood kicked off with a hat-trick of birdies.
The former Challenge Tour winner from England hit his approach to six feet at the first before holing putts from 25 feet at the second and third.
Levy had to wait until the sixth hole to tap-in for his first birdie after an excellent approach which restored his three shot lead.
Fleetwood birdied the long ninth, but Levy again responded with a birdie from six feet on the 11th.
The 23 year old Fleetwood hit a wild drive into the hazard at the 13th and had to take a penalty drop and, although he escaped with a bogey, Levy birdied the same hole from ten feet to hold a five shot lead with five to play.
Having appeared to be coasting to a maiden victory, Levy had his lead dramatically reduced to one as Fleetwood birdied the 14th from 30 feet moments before the Frenchman pulled his approach to the left of the 15th green and, with a divot hampering his third, putted through the putting surface into thick rough, with three shots from there taking him back to 17 under.
Fleetwood then got himself to 16 under with a gain at the long 17th, but three-putted the last as Levy signed off in style with a magnificent long iron over the lake to reach the par five green in two before knocking his ball to three feet at the last for back-to-back closing birdies.
Spain’s Alvaro Quiros finished third on 13 under after a closing 72 – the big-hitting Spaniard’s best European Tour finish since winning the 2011 Dubai World Championship.
Italy’s Francesco Molinari was a shot further back in fourth courtesy of a 67, with World Number Three Henrik Stenson, Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter and Anders Hansen, who produced a best-of-the-day 63, sharing fifth.
Levy was not the only prize-winner on the final day, with England’s Danny Willett picking up a new Volvo for a hole-in-one at the 12th.
"It’s pretty cool to win such a great car,” Willett said of his new V40 Cross Country. “I’m looking forward to taking it for a spin.
“Volvo are one of the biggest and best sponsors in golf so I am delighted to have won that prize. They have been a part of The European Tour for so many years and put so much into the game. We are lucky to have them.”
