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Ireland's Lawrie wins playoff to seal maiden Tour win

04/05/2008

Ireland's Peter Lawrie came from five strokes behind to win the Spanish Open after beating Ignacio Garrido in a playoff.

Both players finished on 15-under par with Lawrie birdying four of the last six holes to card 67, while home favourite Garrido (72) sunk a 35-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

They both birdied the first extra hole but Garrido bogeyed the next after finding the water. Lawrie held his nerve to par the second hole to seal his maiden Tour title.

Lawrie said he was thrilled at becoming the second winner from Republic of Ireland on the Tour in the last three weeks.

"It's been quite a time for the Irish, with my room mate Damien [McGrane] winning by nine shots and Darren's [Clarke] win last week.

"I've been in a playoff for this title before and didn't do myself justice and now I've done it.

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

It was an agonising defeat for Garrido, 36, who led after the second and third rounds and had broken the course record in Seville on Friday.

Denmark's Soren Hansen finished in third place on 14-under after going round in 69. England's David Lynn was joint fourth on 13-under after carding 66, one stroke ahead of compatriot Richard Finch (68).