A wire-to-wire winner after opening the 54-hole tournament with a six-under par 65, Scotland made a second straight 70 to win the opening event of the six-leg MENA Golf Tour by two shots at eight-under par 205.
Dodd, the 46-year-old Welshman who has three titles on the European Tour, seemed to be motoring along and snatched the lead mid-way through the final round before dumping his 7-iron tee shot into the water on the par-3 14th for a double bogey.
That effectively ended his chances of winning finished solo second at six-under par 207.
Pakistan’s Mohammed Munir three-putted the final hole for a bogey to miss out on a tied second place and was third at 208. Another former European Tour winner, England’s Ross McGowan, was fourth at 209.
Scotland became the first player to win twice on the MENA Golf Tour, having also won the season-opener in Abu Dhabi last year.
Scotland started the day three shots ahead of Dodd, but back-to-back bogeys on the fourth and fifth saw him make the turn at one-over par.
Dodd had caught up with him by then, courtesy of birdies on the fourth and sixth holes, and moved one ahead when he picked up another shot on the par-5 10th, which Scotland could only par.
Both players birdied the par-5 13th before Dodd made his only mistake of the day – a bad swing dumping his ball in the water guarding the front of the green on the par-3 14th.
Scotland seized his opportunity, and the competition was well and truly over when he made a superb birdie putt from 20 feet on the 16th hole, and then safely negotiated the tricky closing holes of Dubai Creek.
“It’s just an amazing feeling. Stephen wasn’t really making any mistakes and I had to battle hard just to stay in touch with him. And then he made that one error and luckily, I could capitalise on it,” said Scotland.
“I could not be happier. First of all, I am just happy to be back in Dubai… I love the place. I made it through the first stage of qualifying last week and came here hoping to win at least one tournament on the MENA Tour. I have already achieved that goal of mine.
“Now all I am focused on is a top-three Order of Merit finish and get to play the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. That would be neat.”
Dodd was disappointed with his finish, but delighted with the way his week shaped up. “Take that one shot away and I think I played really well this week. I can take a lot of positives from this,” said Dodd.
Meanwhile, England’s Max Williams was the Best Amateur after rounds of 69, 71 and 72 for a 54-hole total of 212. UAE-based Swiss Michael Harradine was second at 215.
Zane Scotland wins MENA Tour opener at Dubai Creek
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