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Dodd fends off Bjorn to win China Open

Welshman Stephen Dodd today won the first title of his career at the 166th attempt by holding off the challenge of Dane Thomas Bjorn in Shanghai.

The 38-year-old triumphed in the Volvo China Open by a three-stroke margin.

Bjorn, three behind at the start of the day, never got closer than that until Dodd three-putted the short 17th.

But on the 554-yard last it was Dodd who was on in two after Bjorn had driven into the rough and been forced to lay up.

Dodd then sank a 12-foot birdie putt for a 68 and 12-under-par total of 276.

Joint third were Thai golfers Chawalit Plaphol and Thaworn Wiratchant along with Australian Jason Dawes, whose closing 66 included a hole-in-one on the 185-yard eighth.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane both finished 11 shots off the pace on one-under totals of 287.

Lawrie fired a final round 67 while McGrane managed a 69.

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