Cevaer surprise winner of European Open

France's Christian Cevaer, a lowly 449th in the world, was the shock winner of the European Open at the London Club in Kent today.

After an amazing weekend which saw no fewer than 45 changes of the lead the 39-year-old, whose only previous European Tour victory was the 2004 Spanish Open, beat England's Steve Webster, Scot Gary Orr and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros by a shot.

Joint overnight leader with Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, Cevaer struggled to the turn in a three over 39, but then reeled off five pars in a row, two-putted the long 15th for birdie and parred the demanding final three.

The cheque for £300,000 (€342,877) was £116,000 (€132,579) more than his previous biggest on the circuit.

He finished with a two-over 74 for a seven-under total of 281 - 13 more than Ross Fisher took in winning by seven last year.