Dropped shots at 13 and 15 prevented Dean from running away with it, while a wayward tee shot on the par-5 17th almost proved costly.
His ball finished high on a mound, much to the dismay of the friends and family – including one wearing a Dolly Parton t-shirt, with Joe Dean printed on the back.
He was deep in rough that came up to his waist but he managed to hack his way out and scramble a par.
The 18th was just as tense. Dean found a greenside bunker but produced an excellent recovery from the sand to leave him a simple putt for par.
Ahead of him, Wilson was watching nervously. His round was more volatile than Dean’s, who recorded 13 pars.
Wilson holed five birdies but four bogeys checked his progress and he missed out by one.
Big-hitting South African Aldrich Potgieter led for much of the front nine but back-to-back bogeys on 8 and 9 catapulted Dean into the lead.
Potgieter fought back to -1 by the final two holes but he was wayward off the tee both times.
He could only par the par-5 17th, meaning he needed to birdie the last to force a play-off with Dean. Instead, his tee shot found thick rough, his second located a bunker, and he made bogey.
“I was watching the scoreboard all my way around,” Dean said.
“I was watching Wilson and Potgieter, I saw their names hovering at 1-under, level and 1-under.
“The key moment came on 14. I hit a really good drive down the middle, had 250 to the flag straight down wind and just probably hit the best 6-iron I’ve ever hit.
“Fortunately, the wind caught it and it bounced pretty good. We didn’t hear anything from the grandstands, but it was four feet from the hole for eagle. Not bad.”
Dean now has the challenge of finding somewhere to stay.
Ahead of The 152nd Open at Royal Troon, he slept in a camper van, while at Royal Birkdale nine years ago – the scene of his Open debut – it was a nearby Pontins.
“We were fortunate to get a hotel room last night but everywhere else is booked,” he said. “With the weather like it is I could probably pitch a tent next to the putting green.
“Maybe like in Troon in 2024, we’ll find a camper van park but I’ll sleep in the car if I have to.”
Anywhere will do. Just as long as he makes it to the wedding on time next week.