Whatever he goes on to achieve in the game, Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson will never forget his maiden European Challenge Tour win at the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club on the banks of Lough Ree.

With his father, Bengtake, pulling the bag, the 26-year-old soared to within touching distance of promotion to European golf's premier division after a thrilling, one-stroke victory in the 150,000 Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.

Buoyed by an outrageous, 45-foot birdie putt at the 13th and a vital 18-footer for another birdie at the next, Carlsson closed with a fine 70 on a rain-lashed final day to win on 10-under par 278 from Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France and Argentina's Julio Zapata, who gatecrashed the podium thanks to a finishing 67.

Lorenzo-Vera has yet to taste victory on the Challenge Tour. Two ahead of Carlsson with six to play thanks to a birdie hat-trick from the 10th, he was left to rue putting mistakes on the 13th and 17th that led to costly bogeys.

His share of second place was worth 13,500, however, and he was soon smiling when he learned that it had moved him to the top of the Challenge Tour rankings, where the top 20 at the end of the season will earn full European Tour cards for 2008.

Despite three putting the 18th for a closing bogey, Carlsson was already a winner after Lorenzo-Vera's 18-foot birdie try from the fringe had slipped past the left edge of the hole.

"It feels very good to win," said Carlsson, who moved up to sixth place in the rankings thanks to his cheque for 24,000. "I don't think it has sunk in yet. Maybe when I get to the airport it will hit me.

"It was a great event with a lovely golf course, a great hotel with lovely rooms and great food. Everything was superb. I am in a good position now to get my European Tour card. A couple more good finishes I will be there."

Connemara's David Mortimer, last year's Irish PGA winner, played the closing holes in pain as he battled a knee injury but still finished with a superb 69 to lead the Irish challenge in a share of 13th place on two-under par.

Yesterday's scheduled first round of the Mullingar Scratch Cup was cancelled due to the heavy rain. Organisers hope to play all 36 holes today.