Lawrie wins Spanish Open play-off

FINAL ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB & Ire unless stated)
-15 Pe Lawrie, I Garrido (Sp) - Lawrie wins play-off -14 S Hansen (Den) -13 D Lynn, A Garcia-Heredia (Sp), MA Jiminez (Sp) -12 R Finch Selected others: -7 D Clarke +4 C Montgomerie

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Lawrie held his nerve to see off Spaniard Garrido

Ireland's Peter Lawrie beat Ignacio Garrido at the second play-off hole to win the Spanish Open in Seville.

After four birdies in his last six holes, Lawrie looked set to win without sudden death until Garrido closed with a 30ft birdie putt to tie on 15-under.

Both men birdied the first extra hole, but Garrido then saw his pitch to the same green spin back into the water.

Garrido had been aiming to follow in the footsteps of his father, Antonio, who won the Spanish title in 1972.

But the wind was knocked out of his sails on the first play-off hole when Lawrie made a 25ft putt to match his birdie three.

Lawrie's victory makes it three Irish wins in a row on the European Tour after Darren Clarke's Asian Open success and Damien McGrane's China Open victory.

"It's nice to keep it in the Irish contingent," he said. "It spurs you on - you play practice rounds with them and think 'why can't I do it'?"

I'm not a party person, but I will enjoy this Peter Lawrie

Five years ago, the 34-year-old lost a play-off for the same title to England's Kenneth Ferrie.

That was the closest he had come to victory in 174 previous tournaments, while Garrido became a runner-up in the event for the third time in his career.

As a result of his win, Lawrie moves from 88th to 12th on the Order of Merit and into 19th spot in the European Ryder Cup race.

Denmark's Soren Hansen finished in second place on 14 under after a 69 while England's David Lynn and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain were in the group on 13 under.

Darren Clarke could only manage a 73 to end up on seven under while a 74 from Colin Montgomerie put him on four over, 70th of the 75 players who made the cut.