Second is good enough

Van de Velde was beaten despite a superb 65

Jean van de Velde retained his European tour card with a runner-up finish at the Cannes Open, won by Argentine Jorge Berendt.

The victory was Berendt's first on the European Tour and he left the 18th green soaked in champagne after being mobbed by Argentine players and caddies.

He carded a final round 68 at the Cannes Mougins course for a 20-under-par total and one-shot victory over local favourite Van de Velde.

I was very nervous on the last few holes but I am so proud of the way I managed to keep myself and my game going

Jorge Berendt

Victory means a first prize of £57,000 and a third victory for Argentine golfers on the European tour this season, following in the footsteps of Angel Cabrera and Ricardo Gonzalez.

Perhaps more significant is the performance of the runner-up, who closed with a brilliant 65 to secure his card.

Van de Velde will always be remembered for failing to win The Open championship at Carnoustie in 1999.

Victory there would have guaranteed him a 10-year tour exemption.

Tied for third was another Frenchman Thomas Levet, Spain's Santiago Luna and England's Andrew Marshall.

Berendt, who had lost his card in 2000 by just one place and therefore had to go to qualifying school, started the final day two shots clear and was never caught.

It could easily have been three or four shots better but I'm happy because now I have a job next year

Jean Van de Velde

The key to his performance was a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth which gave him a comfortable cushion.

Van de Velde made a late charge when he birdied the 14th and eagled the par five 16th to get within a stroke, but Berendt held his nerve to complete a bogey-free final round.

Norfolk's Marshall was also delighted with his joint-third place in his first experience of playing in the final group.

Marshall, who has already secured a card for the main tour next year via his performances on the Challenge Tour, carded six birdies and four bogeys in his closing 70.

The third place will be a boost to the 23 friends and members of his golf club in Dereham in Norfolk who bought shares in the 28-year-old to raise the £12,500 he needed to fund his season.