Philippe Lima clinches title with closing 66

Frenchman Philippe Lima clinched the Aa St Omer Open on Sunday by a stroke to earn himself an 18-month exemption on the main tour.

Lima shot the best score of another windy day, a five-under-par 66 which was also the joint-best return of the week, to come from three shots off the lead overnight and head the field on five-under-par 279.

Italy's Allessandro Tadini was tied with Lima coming to the 18th but three-putted the final green to deny himself the chance of a playoff. He had to settle for second place with a closing 69.

Lima, 22, winner of the Spanish Challenge tournament in the previous week, now has to replan his schedule for the rest of his year on the main European Tour, knowing he also has full playing rights for the 2005 season.

"I know my life is changing now, this is incredible, a dream come true," said the excited Parisian.

"I putted really well last week to win in Spain but I thought my putting had deserted me in the first three rounds this week.

"Then I had a good day with the putter today and a 66 was a great score in the conditions."

Lima, who pocketed a 70,000 dollar first prize, now has a new dream: "Make it three in a row and win the French Open next week. Why not?"

His rivals were left picking up the crumbs.

Tadini ran his first putt four feet past the hole on the last and missed the one coming back, while only one player from the six-way tie for the lead overnight featured in the top three finishers, Britain's David Geall, who took third place on his own, two behind Lima.

Tournament favourite Simon Dyson was among a group a further stroke back

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