Germany's Tobias Dier survived a nervous finish to win his first European Tour title in the North West of Ireland Open.

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.

England's James Hepworth finished in a tie for fourth on 11 under alongside Swede Mattias Eliasson.

Dodd, a former British amateur champion, had an eagle putt 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.

The 35-year-old from Barry however had the consolation of picking up his biggest ever cheque of £24,353 which took his season's earnings to £85,206 and means he has almost certainly retained his tour card for the first time in five attempts.

"I'm obviously pleased, I played nicely all week and that should be the card secure," said Dodd who has failed to make an impact in the paid ranks since turning professional in 1990, the year after winning the amateur championship and playing in the victorious Walker Cup team.

"I had a chance on the last and hit a good putt but slightly misread it. But this is a big lift and makes life a bit easier."

Dier collected the first prize of £36,535 and with it a potentially more valuable one-year tour exemption that secures his playing rights until the end of 2002.

"It is a big relief," Dier admitted. "It means I can really plan my season from now on and play every tournament I want. That is what I wanted.

"When I turned pro I gave myself three years to get to the European tour which I did and when everyone asked me my plans for this season I said I wanted to win a tournament.

"People thought that might be a bit high but if I say my target is to make my card I might finish 116th on the money list and miss it by one. I have to set my targets realistically but quite high.

"The next thing is to win a big event on the tour, maybe one in Germany. I want to compete with the great players."

The 24-year-old held a three-shot lead overnight after a superb 66 on Saturday 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.

"I knew coming down the last I was still one ahead and it was still my job to do it, I didn't have to rely on anyone else making a mistake," Dier added.

"I hit a two-iron to the green and Stephen hit the same shot in. Our pitch marks were next to each other and I was very relieved when he didn't make his putt."

Collated Final round scores and totals in the North West of Ireland Open, Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club, County Cavan

271 T Dier (Ger) 66 68 66 71 (£36,535)

272 S Dodd 67 68 68 69 (£24,353)

274 M Pilkington 68 69 69 68 (£13,724)

277 J Hepworth 68 69 72 68, M Eliasson (Swe) 67 70 72 68 (10,128 each)

278 D Hospital (Spa) 70 69 73 66, G Storm 69 73 70 66, D Higgins 69 71 69 69, A Ljunggren (Swe) 72 71 66 69, P Hedblom (Swe) 71 67 70 70, P Hanson (Swe) 75 65 67 71

279 K Ferrie 70 68 73 68, J Rask (Swe) 71 72 68 68, J Skold (Swe) 71 69 69 70, JM Arruti (Spa) 65 72 70 72, RJ Derksen (Ned) 68 68 69 74

280 J Donaldson 69 69 72 70, C Cevaer (Fra) 74 69 67 70

281 N Kraiij (Ned) 72 71 71 67, G Dodd (Aus) 68 70 75 68, D McGrane 70 70 72 69, T Immelman (Rsa) 71 71 70 69, J Robinson 73 71 68 69, G Rankin 71 70 70 70, R Guillard (Fra) 76 68 67 70, J Rystrom (Swe) 71 73 67 70, M Jonzon (Swe) 68 70 71 72, A Raitt 74 68 67 72

282 G Murphy 72 70 73 67, K Brink (Swe) 72 70 71 69, K Eriksson (Swe) 72 69 71 70, G Evans 72 72 68 70, M Blackey 70 69 71 72

283 P Fowler (Aus) 72 71 74 66, R Sjoberg (Swe) 72 71 73 67, S Hurley 71 71 70 71, E Little 74 70 68 71

284 G Hutcheon 68 72 74 70, M Nilsson (Swe) 72 68 73 71, P Golding 74 69 70 71, A Binaghi (Ita) 71 70 71 72, D De Vooght (Bel) 74 70 67 73

285 B Hafthorsson (Ice) 72 72 72 69, D Smyth 72 72 72 69, R Coles 74 70 71 70, G Baruffaldi (Ita) 72 68 74 71, M Tunnicliff 72 71 71 71, R Byrd (USA) 73 68 72 72

286 A McLean 71 73 72 70, S Khan 73 66 76 71, D Edlund (Swe) 69 69 75 73, C Hainline (USA) 72 70 71 73, P Nilbrink (Swe) 72 71 69 74, C Gane 75 67 69 75

287 G Pietrobono (Ita) 71 71 77 68, S Delagrange (Fra) 70 74 72 71, K Storgaard (Den) 70 72 73 72, C Larrain (Ven) 74 68 73 72, F Bisazza (Ita) 75 69 69 74, N Henning (Rsa) 71 73 68 75, M Reale (Ita) 70 70 71 76

288 F Howley 75 68 75 70, J Romero (Spa) 71 71 74 72, P Gottfridson (Swe) 71 73 72 72, M Santi (Ita) 73 69 72 74, E Carlberg (Swe) 70 74 70 74, S Wakefield 69 71 73 75

289 P Purhonen (Fin) 74 67 74 74, I Hutchings (Rsa) 75 68 72 74

290 M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 71 70 78 71, T Norret (Den) 73 70 76 71, A Marshall 67 74 74 75, W Huget (Ger) 70 72 73 75

291 K Baraka (Ger) 73 70 77 71, J Mellor 75 67 74 75, J Berendt (Arg) 72 72 72 75, D Nouailhac (Fra) 70 71 74 76

292 M Olander (Swe) 73 71 79 69, G Houston 74 70 76 72, S Little 70 74 75 73

293 D Dixon 71 71 77 74, J Dignam 69 75 74 75

295 M Bernardini (Ita) 72 69 72 82

296 R Winchester 73 70 78 75

297 A Butterfield 75 68 80 74