• Open de France, Round Four

Levet proves his mettle in Paris

Thomas Levet snatched his first European Tour win since 2009 © PA Photos

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Final leaderboard

Thomas Levet delighted the home crowd at the Open de France by emerging from the field on the final day to clinch the trophy in Paris.

World No. 352 Levet completed at seven-under, one shot ahead of Mark Foster and Thorbjorn Olesen, following a 70 on Sunday.

The victory is Levet's first on the European Tour in two years - his sixth overall - and comes just one month after he finished the Wales Open at 21-over. Before the tournament, the veteran Frenchman had not recorded a top-ten performance since March 2010.

He began the final day three shots off overnight joint-leader Foster - who threw away a 54-hole lead for the second time in successive weeks - but came storming through to victory after Foster could only manage a 74.

It was a masterclass in resilience from Levet, who maintained his composure in windy conditions, picking up four birdies and succumbing to three bogeys - unavoidable pitfalls at Le Golf National, a punishing course that will host the 2018 Ryder Cup.

"It's just crazy," Levet said. "It went like a dream today. I knew I was three behind, but on that course it is nothing. I just tried to hang on in every hole."

James Morrison, the joint leader at the start of the day, found water at the first and second holes on his way to a 78 that left him in a tie for seventh at two-under, while Martin Kaymer returned to form by finishing in fourth at four-under, meaning he will leapfrog Rory McIlroy to assume the world No. 3 position.

Colin Montgomerie fired a 73 to complete at four-over, meaning he needs a top-five finish next week in Scotland to secure a place at this year's Open Championship.

Kenneth Ferrie handed in an 88 - he dropped 11 shots in the last five holes - to finish the tournament at 25-over. In March, Ferrie equalled the lowest score in European Tour history with a 60 at the Open de Andalucía in Malaga.

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