DODD’S FINE ITALIAN JOB

Welshman Stephen Dodd held his nerve at Golf Club Udine to win the Senior Italian Open by one shot from compatriot Phillip Price yesterday. In just his seventh event on the European Senior Tour, the 50-year-old went into the final day nine under par after rounds of 69 and 64 and held on in testing conditions by carding a level-par 71 in the final round. The three-time European Tour winner, who made his Senior Tour debut in July, became the ninth player to win on the European Challenge Tour, European Tour and Senior Tour. Price, one of the heroes of Europe’s 2002 Ryder Cup side, made his Senior Tour debut this week after turning 50 on the day of the first round. The Welshman carded a one-under 70 to finish runner-up on eight-under 205. Magnus P Atlevi and Andre Bossert, winners at the Paris Legends championship and Travis Perkins Masters, shared third on 206. Argentina’s Cesar Monasterio was fifth on 207.