SIMON Dyson was back in the money but just out of the top three in the St Omer Open in France.

Dyson's upswing in form continued on the third day when he was among six joint leaders after his third successive one-under-par round of 70. But when he needed a final push to take him to his first European Tour victory after two runners-up places in the last six weeks, the North Yorkshire ace just lost a slice of momentum.

The Malton and Norton Golf Club star (pictured right) finished with a one-over-par 72 to give him a two-under total of 282 just three shots behind leader Philippe Lima.

The Frenchman stormed through the field on the last day with a five-under 66 on the back of three rounds of 71 that gave him a one-shot triumph over Italy's Alessandro Tandini with England's David Geall a further shot back before Dyson headed a group of four in fourth place.

Dyson got off to a poor start to the final round with a bogey on the third hole only to redress the balance with birdies on the fourth and eighth holes. As he turned for home with the leader-board in sight Dyson dropped a shot on the 11th and then hit a five on the par-four final hole to deny him joint third spot alongside Geall.

Still, it was another lucrative outing for the 26-year-old Dyson who earned close on £10,000 to nudge his earnings to beyond £120,000 since the start of the year as he draws ever nearer to reclaiming his European Tour card.

Updated: 10:43 Monday, June 21, 2004