Nailsea's Chris Wood secured the biggest cheque of his young professional golf career yesterday after finishing tied fifth at the European Open in Kent.

Wood won £64,440, and is now almost certain to keep his European Tour card for next season, one of the most difficult achievements for any rookie on the circuit.

"I had a really good chance to win today," said Wood, who began the day just three shots behind joint leaders Jeev Milka Singh, of India, and Christian Cevear, of France.

"I felt that I held myself, and my game together really well. I was a little nervous to start with but what happened to me at the Open last year really helped."

Wood started better than almost all his rivals and knocked in two early birdies to have a share of the lead after six holes. But he could not manage another birdie and, in the end, suffered three bogeys for a one-over-par final round of 73.

"I had no plan for a score at the start of the day; I just wanted to keep playing steadily like I had been all week.

"To be honest, after practice on Wednesday, I felt like I wasn't hitting the ball that well and would've been happy just to make the cut. But golf is funny like that – you never know what's around the corner."

Playing with Rory McIlroy in the penultimate group of the day, Wood was in contention almost to the very end of the event and was checking the scoreboards all the way to the 18th hole.

"I thought if I birdied the last, I might make a playoff, but the 18th at the London Club is one of the hardest finishing holes there is. I couldn't manage it," he said.

However, the 2008 season is already a triumph for Wood who needs one more top 10 finish during the year to absolutely guarantee his Tour card.

He has moved up from 89th to 70th in the Race To Dubai, the new name for the European Tour money list, and he now sees himself pushing towards the top 50 and a potential victory.

"I think I can push on now for the rest of the season, and I think I can win on Tour. You just have to be so mentally solid all week. But I wasn't intimidated, and to have almost secured my Tour card for next year is a massive thing.

"My mum and dad were there and that felt good, so now I'm looking forward to next week at Celtic Manor (The Celtic Manor Wales Open) when I can stay at home and get lots of local support."

The European Open was eventually won by Cevear, who finished two shots ahead of Wood on seven-under-par, despite a final round 74, and claimed £300,000 in prize money.

Cevaer, nicknamed the 'Sundance Kid' when he won the 1988 British youth title because of a likeness to Robert Redford, was delighted at landing the biggest victory of his career.

After being presented with the trophy, the 39-year-old said: "It's amazing what choosing to be happy can do."

Cevaer came into the week suffering a bowel inflammation, possibly sparked by stress related to management problems.

But he ended it with a massive pay cheque, and with a five-year European Tour exemption – just before he becomes a father for the second time.

"I am a human being and it got to me health-wise," he stated. "I will spare you the details, but it drains you of energy and even on Thursday I played with pain."

He beat England's Steve Webster, Scot Gary Orr and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros by a shot.