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Lawrie wins Spanish Open after play-off @ Sunday 4 May 2008, 05:47 PM

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 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.

Lawrie made 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'?"

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.




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