Justin Rose yesterday proved his British Open championship heroics were not a flash in the pan after narrowly missing out on his maiden European Tour victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Rose carded a final round 69 to finish 20-under-par at Houghton Golf Club and was only pipped to the win after a stunning display from Australian Adam Scott as the 20-year-old pair fought out a thrilling head-to-head duel.

Scott, who led by one overnight, also closed with a 69 for 21-under total of 267, picking up birdies at the 14th, 16th and 18th to hold off Rose's brave challenge and claim the £79,000 winner's cheque.

Scotland's Dean Robertson and six-times major winner Nick Faldo finished in a tie for third, a shot behind Rose. "I'm happy with the way the week has worked out, I'm very proud that I hung in there," said Rose. "I had a great chance to win but I feel like I didn't throw the chance away. I felt comfortable with the situation and proved to myself I am capable of winning and that's a big positive."

The 20-year-old had to endure a few worrying moments when a rules official spotted a possible rules breach before he played his second shot to the last from the fairway bunker.

Rose's right foot appeared to move a fraction as he lined up his shot and if his left had also moved, that would have been deemed as testing the condition of the hazard and a two-shot penalty.

But after viewing the video replays with Rose, senior referee Andy McFee ruled that there had been no transgression.

Meanwhile Scott's victory was his first as a professional in just his ninth event on the European Tour since joining the paid ranks in June last season.

The 20-year-old Queenslander, just 14 days older than Rose, looked to be cruising to victory when he opened up a four-shot lead after his third birdie of the day on the fifth.

But he then dropped shots at the ninth and 10th to see his lead down to one with Rose recovering from dropping a shot on the first with birdies at the fifth and ninth.

It was then a case of unlucky for some 13 when Scott's approach hit the flag and bounced back off the front of the green, his par putt also lipping out, while Rose birdied from 20 feet to take the lead.

Scott then showed his class on the next with a wonderful curling birdie putt to get back on level terms. Both players then birdied the 16th before Scott also birdied the last from three feet for the win after Rose's effort just missed.

Faldo, meanwhile, was as pleased as the winner with his display after a closing round 68 left him just two shots behind Scott in joint third.