Mark Foster of England managed to play a level par round for most of the final day at the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla until the 12th hole where he bogeyed the par four to slip back into the clutches of the chasing pack at the Open de España – holding a slim one shot advantage.
At one point up to four players were in the chase including Alvaro Quiros, Jamie Donaldson and Paul Lawrie of Scotland, who bogeyed the 18th to finish 9 under and out of contention.
When James Morrison, winner of the Madeira Islands Open, posted 11 under in the clubhouse it was still Foster’s to win as he was in the final pairing with Carlos del Moral and Alvaro Quiros. But on the last hole Foster bogeyed and Quiros finished par to earn a play off with Morrison.
In the first play off hole Morrison put his second shot into the water while Quiros played a stunning short almost pitching into the hole. With a 15 foot put left and Morrison in the drop zone local boy Alvaro Quiros claimed the Open De España becoming the first Spaniard to win the title since Sergio Garcia in 2002.
The Irish challenge was slow to unwind with Shane Lowry making the best effort and getting to within four shots on reaching the half way stage. But a double bogey on the par three 11th hole undid the momentum and with a bogey and a birdie still to come. Lowry finished the round level par and 8 under overall.
Damien McGrane had dropped two shots by the tenth but the error was compensated with a birdie on 13. His round was undone though with bogeys on 14th, 15th and 17th to finish on 74 shots and a 5 under total for a share of 17th place.
The jet lagged Darren Clarke ended the day on 69 despite carding a double bogey on the 7th and bogey on the 11th. But three birdies ether side of the turn ensured a 3 under par round total after his 69 pushed him 16 places up the leader board.
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