Challenge Tour: Ireland's Stephen Browne captured the biggest victory of his professional career yesterday by winning the European Challenge Tour's Norwegian Challenge Open, carding a gutsy five-under par 67 to win by three shots at the at the Vestfold Golf Club, Tønsberg, Norway.

Browne's final round gave the 30-year-old Dubliner a three-round total of 11-under par 205 to win by three from Oskar Bergman of Sweden, and the English pair of Denny Lucas and Mark Sanders. His win secured Browne a cheque for €16,800, and takes him to 25th on the Challenge Tour rankings with earnings of €29,844.

The top 15 players on the rankings at the end of the season are rewarded with a place on main European Tour, and Browne is hoping his maiden victory will give him with the confidence to continue his golfing ascent.

"I played well. I got a bit of luck on the eighth when my pitch was going way past the hole but hit the flag and stayed right next to the hole, but I was very strong on the back nine.

"I birdied four in a row from the 10th, and then standing on the par-five 17th, I knew a birdie would be good enough to win. It was into the wind and playing long but I hit one of the best drives of my career, then followed it up with a piercing three wood from 254 yards that landed on the front of the green and gave me a two putt birdie. "

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth shot a final round of 70 for a two-under par total of 214 in the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Eamonn Darcy shot 218 as Doug Tewell took the title with a three-round total of 202 - one shot ahead of former Irish Open champion Bruce Fleisher.