Dodt wins in India, first pro victory

NEW DELHI, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Australian Andrew Dodt birdied two of the last three holes Sunday in taking a 1-stroke victory at the European PGA Tour's Avantha Masters in New Delhi.

It was the first European tour win for Dodt, 24. He shot a closing 4-under-par 68 and finished the tournament at 14-under 274. Richard Finch turned in a 6-under 66 Sunday and ended up second at 13-under.

Seven players entered the final round tied for first including Richard Bland, Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Barry Lane each shot 1-under 71 Sunday who wound up in a tie for third with David Drysdale. None of the other third-round leaders broke par in the final round.

Finch had a 32, which included five birdies and a bogey on the front side and added birdies at 11 at 18 in grabbing the clubhouse lead.

Dodt's front-nine 33 kept him in position. He gave back a stroke at the 11th hole but tied Finch with a birdie at 16 and finished with a birdie at the par-5 18th with an up-and-down from a green-side bunker for the win.

"I can't describe the feeling that I have now, Dodt said. "To win a professional golf tournament is absolutely huge. I've come close a few times and to actually pull it off is a dream come true."