Hillsborough's Dean goes close again as he climbs to second on EuroPro Tour

The former English men’s amateur champion – who lost a sudden-death-play off in the the Dawson and Sanderson Classic 14 days ago – was one shot adrift of forcing another on Friday in the Ablrate.com Championship at Wychwood Park, in Cheshire.

And just as at Longhirst Hall he had to show commendable composure after a poor start to his final round.

In the Dawson and Sanderson Classic he doubled bogeyed the first; on Friday it was the second.

But Dean bounced straight back with a birdie at three and had two more, at seven and eight, as he moved to the turn in one under par.

It was on the back nine that he really sparked, birdies at 11, 12, 15, 17 and 18 leading to a closing 66.

Tacked on to opening efforts of 70 72 it left him just one shot behind winner Dave Coupland, of Woodhall Spa, who carded 69 70 68 – a birdie at the last denying Dean and Beau Desert’s Richard Mansell an over-time opportunity.

Shipley’s Will Whiteoak, Nick McCarthy, of Moortown, and Liam O’Neill (Leeds Golf Centre) shared 10th spot.

Former England amateur international Whiteoak (75 70 67) looked as if he might challenge after an outward nine that included an eagle and four birdies, a bogey at six the only blemish.

But he was becalmed on the back nine, two birdies being offset by two bogeys.

McCarthy got to two under after five on the way out only to drop shots at seven and nine.

Two birdies on the way in led to his second consecutive two-under-par 70 having opened the week with a 72.

O’Neill (70 70 72) got his last round underway in stunning fashion with an eagle at the first and, after giving one of the shots back with a bogey at five, birdied eight.

However, his return loop to the clubhouse was punctuated with two birdies, but also two bogeys and a double bogey.