Lockerbie seals maiden win in Kazakhstan

England s Gary Lockerbie secured an immediate return to The European Tour with his first victory as a professional at the Kazakhstan Open, the most lucrative regular event on the Challenge Tour Schedule.

After a closing round of 70 at Nurtau Golf Club in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for a 15 under par aggregate total, Lockerbie collected a 68,800 winner s cheque which propelled him to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings. The 25 year old is thus assured a place on The 2009 European Tour Schedule, having only lost his playing privileges last year.

With the luxury of a three shot cushion coming down the last, Lockerbie could even afford a final hole bogey which did little to dampen his delight.

He said: I m absolutely thrilled. It was a bit greedy of me to win the biggest cheque of the year, but I m certainly not complaining! I played well in China last week and finished second, so I ve really peaked at the right time. Obviously I was desperate to win here this week, but I tried not to think about it too much today. I was pretty nervous on the first tee this morning, but playing with my mate Steven O Hara helped me to relax.

It was a great feeling to come down the last knowing even a double bogey would be enough to take the title. The goal was always to get my card back for The European Tour, and now I ve achieved that

I d love to go there as the Number One graduate. It would be some achievement, because two or three weeks ago I was worrying about whether I would make it into the top 20. Now I ve gone to first in the Rankings, I d love to stay there. That s the next target but first I m going to enjoy the moment.

Lockerbie s compatriot Stuart Davis finished two shots back in second after compiling a stunning round of 67 which featured six birdies on the back nine.

Italian Alessandro Tadini matched Davis round of 67 to finish third on 12 under par alongside O Hara, who shot a 72. In a share of fifth on ten under par were the English duo of Chris Gane and David Horsey, and Brazil s Alexandre Rocha.