France’s Alexander Levy claimed his maiden title on the European Tour, after claiming the Volvo China Open, following a final round that very nearly had a dramatic twist.

Starting the day with a three shot lead, the 23-year-old’s advantage was cut to just two after opening with five consecutive pars. The player making the run was England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who claimed his maiden victory last summer at Gleneagles. The talented, former Challenge Tour winner from Southport, would begin his final round in blistering fashion with three straight birdies to peg back the Frenchman.

However, Levy would start to reign dominate after tapping in for birdie at the sixth, before another came at the 11th. At this stage, the former French amateur champion was three clear of Fleetwood, who had earlier birdied the ninth, but Levy would soon pull further clear of his fellow 23-year-old.

Fleetwood, who was in the penultimate pairing, would make bogey on the 13th after an errant drive, from which Levy would capitalise by making birdie at the same hole. With a five shot lead in hand with six to play, it looked destined to be the California born Frenchman’s day.

However, near disaster would strike on the 15th. Moments after Fleetwood holed from 30 feet for birdie, Levy would pull his approach left of the green. From here, he would conspire to make double bogey, and saw his advantage shrink to a precarious two shots with three holes remaining.

Further pressure was added after Fleetwood made birdie at the par five 17th, before he three-putted the last to finish at 15-under. The stage was then clear for Alexander Levy, who has just come off a birdie at the penultimate hole. He would finish in stunning fashion, with a birdie on the final hole sealing a four-shot victory and a 19-under total of 269.

However, it could have been so different after that solitary blip on the 15th: “I didn’t feel pressure - it was a difficult putt, difficult pin position, my ball was in the divot. It was a difficult shot, I made double bogey but I knew I was playing well and I was only thinking about my game,” Levy reflected.

He was playing well, and his long-iron to the 575 yard 17th was a thing of beauty: “I hit one of my best shots on 17. I didn’t feel pressure on the golf course because I’m confident.

“I just played my golf and focussed on the target. I saw Tommy made a birdie on the 17th but I like the pressure.”

It was a victorious pressure that brought with it a winner’s cheque of €389,150, and a move up to 19th on the Race to Dubai.

Tommy Fleetwood, who has went through a lean couple of months after his breakthrough season in 2013, improves his position on the money list by moving up to 17th, as he looks to move inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Levy’s playing partner in the final round was former Dubai World Championship winner, Alvaro Quiros who would finish in third after a closing round of 72. The popular, long-hitting Spaniard would post his best finish on the European Tour since that victory in Dubai three years ago, as he looks to restore his career to those heights of old.

There was joy also for Francesco Molinari, whose final round of 67 would see him claim sole-possession of fourth. That finish will move the two-time Ryder Cup player inside the world’s top 50, which will secure a place in the lucrative Players Championship on the PGA Tour in two weeks.

There were also strong final rounds for two of the star names in the field, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, who would both finish in a tie for fifth. The latter looking particularly impressive, with a closing 65 reminiscent of his impressive performances last year.

However, in the end it was Alexander Levy’s week. He becomes the 20th different winner in the 20 years of this event, with a victory securing his place alongside Victor Dubuisson as one of the new shining lights in French golf.