By Brian Keogh

Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson grabbed a lucrative one-stroke win in the Challenge of Ireland at Glasson and took a giant step towards earning his full European Tour card..

The 26-year-old closed with a two-under par 70 to win by a shot from France's Michael Lorenzo-Vera and Argentine Julio Zapata on 10 under par.

But it was nail-biting stuff right to the end as Carlsson lost his two-stroke overnight lead and fell two behind Lorenzo-Vera with six to play before a couple of long-range birdie putts turned his day around.

Course record holder Lorenzo-Vera had birdied the 10th, 11th and 12th to lead by two strokes from Carlsson on 11 under par.

But a two-shot swing at the next, where he missed a short par putt after Carlsson had rammed him a 45 footer for birdie, proved to be crucial on a rain-sodden final day.

Carlsson holed an 18 footer from the fringe of the par-five 14th to move one stroke clear and then took a two shot lead to the 18th after Lorenzo-Vera three-putted the 17th to drop back to nine under.

The Frenchman eventually closed with a 69 and the consolation of moving to the top of the Challenge Tour rankings after sharing second place with Argentine Julio Zapata, who equalled the best score of the day with a five-under par 67.

Despite three-putting the 18th, Carlsson moved up to sixth in the rankings after pocketing €24,000 and is now odds on to win one of 20 European Tour cards at the end of the season.

He said: "It feels very good to win. I don't think it has sunk in yet. Maybe when I get to the airport it will hit me. I am in a good position now to get my European Tour card. A couple more good finishes I will be there.

"It was a great event with a lovely golf course, a great hotel with lovely rooms and great food. Everything was superb. I haven't had a Guinness yet but I might have one now."

Despite suffering with a knee injury, Connemara's David Mortimer led the Irish challenge in a share of 13th place on two under par after a closing 69.

Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin finished on one-under in tied 15th after a 73 with Birr's Justin Kehoe battling back for Saturday's 75 to share 18th place on level par after a 71.

Despite missing out of a top 10 spot that would have got him into this week's Scottish Challenge, Kehoe was upbeat about his week.

Kehoe said: "I was a bit low last night after dropping out of contention but I knuckled down today and shot a good one. My short game is good and I have putted well all week. I have got to try and take that form onto the Europro Tour now and try and get a win. That's what I'd really like to do."

The event looks certain to return to Glasson next year and while the hotel’s touring professional Colm Moriarty reported that the players were thrilled by the course and facilities.

Tied for 25th on three over after a closing 73, Moriarty said: "All the guys I have talked to were delighted with the venue and the course set-up. It would be fantastic to come back next year because there has been a great atmosphere right from the pro-am on Wednesday through to the final round.”

Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson, the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, 7,159 yards par 72
Final
278 MA Carlsson (Swe) 69 70 69 70 (€24,000);
279 J Zapata (Arg) 69 73 70 67; M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 63 73 74 69 (€13,500);
283 P Kaensche (Nor) 70 73 68 72 (€9,000);
284 F Widmark (Swe) 67 72 73 72; S Scahill (Nzl) 69 77 71 67; L Westerberg (Swe) 71 69 71 73;
285 L Bond (Wal 73 66 72 74; T Dykes (Wal 68 74 72 71; M Persson (Swe) 71 72 70 72; M Cort (Eng) 70 73 69 73; A Velasco (Esp) 69 72 70 74;
286 S Manley (Wal 70 71 75 70; D Mortimer (Irl) 72 71 74 69;
287 G Maybin (Irl) 69 73 72 73; O Whiteley (Eng) 72 75 68 72; O Bergman (Swe) 71 73 71 72;
288 M Lundberg (Swe) 70 72 73 73; S Davis (Eng) 67 77 71 73; J Kehoe (Irl) 69 73 75 71;
289 J Abbate (Arg) 71 76 70 72; R O'Hanlon (Eng) 71 75 71 72; 289 P Baker (Eng) 72 73 71 73; M Wiegele (Aut) 70 75 73 71;
291 R Kakko (Fin) 71 75 69 76; A Butterfield (Eng) 74 69 74 74; A McArthur (Sco) 64 78 75 74; C Moriarty (Irl) 72 74 72 73;
292 M Murphy (Irl) 67 78 73 74; G Murray (Sco) 71 74 73 74; S Henderson (Sco) 72 72 75 73; C Smith (Wal 72 75 71 74; T Nielsen (Den) 72 75 71 74;
293 F Aguilar (Chi) 71 76 74 72; A Mellor (Eng) 74 69 75 75;
294 F Valera (Esp) 71 71 79 73; G Acosta (Arg) 73 74 69 78;
295 J Mellor (Eng) 70 73 74 78; J Little (Eng) 70 74 74 77;
296 M Campbell (Irl) 73 74 73 76;
297 F Zanotti (Par) 72 75 74 76; K Staunton (Eng) 71 76 75 75; W Bladon (Eng) 68 79 72 78
298 M Dieu (Fra) 71 75 76 76; G Paddison (Nzl) 71 72 76 79; I Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 76 78 75;
299 C Brazillier (Fra) 70 77 73 79; G Cullen (Irl) 70 76 74 79;
301 JE Morgan (Eng) 69 77 75 80; D De Vooght (Bel) 67 78 77 79; A Maestroni (Ita) 70 75 74 82;
302 R Eyraud (Fra) 76 71 73 82; P Nilbrink (Nor) 71 76 74 81; E Ramsay (Sco) 74 72 77 79;
303 M Richardson (Eng) 70 75 76 82;
304 L Walker (Irl) 72 75 76 81; G Clark (Eng) 73 71 79 81;
305 M Hoey (Nir) 74 73 73 85 ; J Doherty (Sco) 73 72 78 82; R McGowan (Eng) 75 72 77 81;
310 D Dixon (Eng) 74 73 77 86