From Brian Keogh in Glasson

Whatever he goes on to achieve in the game, Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson will never forget his maiden European Challenge Tour win at the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club the banks of Lough Ree.

With his father Bengtake pulling the bag, the 26-year-old soared to within touching distance of promotion to European golf’s premier division after a thrilling one-stroke victory in the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.

Buoyed by an outrageous, 45-foot birdie putt at the 13th and a vital 18-footer for another birdie at the next, Carlsson closed with a fine 70 on a rain-lashed final day to win by a shot on 10-under par 278 from Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France and Argentina’s Julio Zapata, who gatecrashed the podium thanks to a finishing 67.

Lorenzo-Vera has yet to taste victory on the Challenge Tour. Two ahead of Carlsson with six to play thanks to a birdie hat-trick from the 10th, he was left to rue putting mistakes on the 13th and 17th that led to costly bogeys.

His share of second place was worth €13,500, however, and he was soon smiling when he learned that it had moved him to the top of the Challenge Tour rankings, where the top 20 at the end of the season will earn full European Tour cards for 2008.

Despite three-putting the 18th for a closing bogey, Carlsson was already a winner after Lorenzo-Vera’s 18-foot birdie try from the fringe had slipped past the left edge of the hole.

"It feels very good to win,” said Carlsson, who moved up to sixth place in the rankings thanks to his cheque for €24,000. “I don't think it has sunk in yet. Maybe when I get to the airport it will hit me.

"It was a great event with a lovely golf course, a great hotel with lovely rooms and great food. Everything was superb. I am in a good position now to get my European Tour card. A couple more good finishes I will be there."

Connemara's David Mortimer, last year’s Irish PGA winner, played the closing holes in pain as he battled a knee injury but still finished with a superb 69 to lead the Irish challenge in a share of 13th place on two-under par.

Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin, who is now 89th on the rankings, was a shot further back after a 73 with Birr's Justin Kehoe battling back from Saturday’s disappointments to share 18th place on level par after a fine 71.

Glasson proprietor Tom Reid is keen to host the event again next year and the hotel’s touring professional Colm Moriarty, who tied for 25th on three over after a closing 73, reported that the players were thrilled by the quality of the venue.

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