Todd Clements. DP World Tour

England’s Todd Clements held his nerve to secure a first DP World Tour title in Prague on Sunday as he held off Matt Wallace with a bogey-free 63 to win the Czech Masters.

The Englishman finished on 22-under, one clear of countryman Wallace at Albatross Golf Resort, with Dane Nicolai Højgaard four shots off the lead in third, one clear of Scot Robert MacIntyre, who extended his advantage in the race for the third spot on the Ryder Cup team available on the European Points List ahead of next week’s final qualifying event at the European Masters.

Swede Ludvig Aberg, German duo Nick Bachem and Maximilian Schmitt, Finn Sami Välimäki and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti were also at 17-under.

Clements won the English Amateur in 2017 but had played events on the MENA Tour before turning professional following the 2018 US Amateur.

He claimed his first professional victories as he won twice on the EuroPro Tour in 2019, the same season he achieved two top-threes on the European Challenge Tour to help earn his playing privileges for 2020.

His big breakthrough came last season, with victory at the Irish Challenge helping him finish 16th on the Road to Mallorca, although he came into this week 151st in the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with a best finish of 21st in 11 made cuts from 21 events.

But he has now jumped 100 places after becoming the first Englishman to lift this trophy in just his 30th Tour appearance.

“Given the circumstances that’s got to be the best round of my life,” a delighted Clements said. “I’m over the moon. I’ve dreamt about winning for a long time and with my birthday coming up on Tuesday I couldn’t be happier.

“Three shots to make up is a tough ask but I knew I was playing well enough to get in amongst it. I feel like I did my job on every shot and obviously the luck was with me today because I holed a few long ones.”