David Dixon won the European Tour qualifying school by one shot at the PGA Catalunya Resort on Thursday.
Englishman holds off Hutsby despite up-and-down round
David Dixon won the European Tour qualifying school by one shot after shooting a 69 in the sixth and final round at the PGA Catalunya Resort on Thursday.
The Englishman, one of 37 players to secure their places on the 2012 European Tour, held off the challenge of compatriot Sam Hutsby over the final 10 holes to finish on a 21-under-par total.
All looked to be going smoothly for overnight leader Dixon as he collected birdies on the opening two holes and then played out the next six holes to par.
However, such consistency disappeared in dramatic fashion over the remainder of his round as the 34-year-old from Bridgwater carded two eagles, two birdies, one bogey and two double-bogeys before finishing with pars on the 17th and 18th.
Dixon, who found himself 14 shots off the lead following the opening day having carded a 74, said: "It has been a very up and down day again. There were some highs and lows, but I'm really chuffed to come out on top.
"I had a perfect start, but then hit a couple of loose ones towards the end of the front nine which caused a bit of a scare.
Job done
"Then I hit some great shots but one went in the water, and in the end I was happy to hold on. I holed some really good putts towards the end and got the job done."
Dixon, whose only tournament victory came at the 2008 Saint-Omer Open, added: "It's been a very up and down year and it's been a bit of a nightmare on and off the course, but this is an awesome way to finish and I can't wait for next year now."
Hutsby, meanwhile, shot 68 to finish runner-up at the final stage for the second time in three visits to the qualifying school. He had led for the first four rounds this week after starting with a brilliant 60.
Looking ahead, the 23-year-old is confident of retaining his playing privileges next term, saying: "I think I'm a much stronger person than I was last time I was on Tour, so I can't wait for the season to start.
"Some of the golf I played this week gives me a lot of confidence for the future."
Completing an all-English top four, Andy Sullivan was third just ahead of Richard Bland, with Scot Steven O'Hara finishing in level fifth place alongside Spaniard Jordi Garcia.
Drama
There was drama further down the leaderboard as well, where American Scott Pinckney, who started the day in a tie for 66th place on one-under-par, fired a best-of-the-day round of 65 to take the 24th card available.
The magic number was seven-under-par, a mark achieved in memorable fashion by England's Jamie Elson after he holed a huge birdie putt on the ninth hole - his last - of the Stadium Course.
Similarly, Spaniard Agustin Domingo, whose uncle is Senior Tour champion Domingo Hospital, picked up four shots in his final five holes to claim one of the golden tickets on offer.
