Scotsman Andrew Coltart survived a mid-round stumble to claim his second European Tour title in the Great North Open today.Coltart carded a final round 72 for an 11-under-par total of 277 and a one-shot victory over fellow Scot Stephen Gallacher and Surrey's Paul Casey.
Bradley Dredge of Wales was on course to force a play-off until he ran up a double bogey six and had to settle for a share of fourth on nine-under-par alongside English pair Daren Lee and Steve Webster.
Coltart began the day three shots clear of the field but at one stage found himself two shots off the lead after bogeys at the eighth and ninth while Lee had picked up four birdies in his opening 12 holes.
Birdies at the 11th and 12th got him back on level terms before another dropped shot on the 12th dropped him back into a five-way tie for the lead.
Crucially for Coltart however, of all the players in contention he was the only one with a tournament victory under his belt, the Qatar Masters in 1998, and a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 15th took him back to 11 under and alongside Dredge in the lead.
Dredge then suffered a terrible stroke of bad luck on the 18th when his tee shot hit a spectator and ended in deep rough that meant he could not reach the green in two and the resulting six proved costly.
Coltart had the advantage of watching the drama unfold from the fairway and he knew he needed just a par four to win - which he safely secured to claim the first prize of #133,330 that lifts him into the top 10 on the Ryder Cup standings.
-PA