Globe-trotter Trevor Dodds, who last year won a battle with cancer, finally reached his desired destination at Oak Forest Country Club at Greensboro, North Carolina, when he shot a final round 69 for a 12-under-par 276 to capture the top prize of $396,000 in the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic yesterday.

Dodds, a 38-year-old Namibian who has played most of his golf in the Far East and Canada, before spending the past 10 years on the US circuit without ever retaining his card, beat Scott Verplank in a play-off to claim his first US Tour title.

In a dramatic finale, Bob Estes - one of three co-leaders going into the final round - bogeyed the 17th and 18th holes to finish one shot behind Dodds, while Verplank sank a 30-footer for what was only the third birdie of the day on the 18th to force a play-off.

Ireland's Richard Coughlan had a final round 74 for a one-over-par total of 289, but the day belonged to Dodds who birdied the 18th hole for the fourth straight day and, in his first ever play-off, hit a nine-iron approach to 10 feet and only required two putts for victory after Verplank drove into the rough and only managed a bogey five.

"A short time ago, when I was fighting cancer, I thought I'd never play golf again. Now, here I am winning on the one tour I ever really wanted to win on. It's a dream come true," said Dodds.

Coughlan's chances of going low were hit by a double bogey six at the third hole where he drove into the left rough. However, the Birr man steadied himself with five straight pars and rapped in a 12footer for birdie at the ninth and went level par for the day with another birdie, from the same distance, at the 10th.

"I knew I needed to be aggressive over the closing holes," said Coughlan. But he paid the price in his quest for birdies. At the 17th, his four iron tee-shot went through the back of the green and, with the course set up similar to the US Open, he had a difficult pitch back and failed to save his par.

And, at the final hole, Coughlan again played aggressively. His nine iron approach - from 155 yards - went through the back of the green and he failed to get up and down, his two closing bogeys giving him a 74.