Sweden's Niclas Fasth won the Spanish Open overnight (NZ time) after a sudden-death play-off with Briton John Bickerton.
Fasth holed a five-foot birdie putt at the fourth extra hole after both players had finished on 18-under-par 270, a stroke ahead of the field.
While Bickerton equalled the San Roque New
course record with a closing 63, Fasth had bogeys at the final two holes for a 69 to fall into a play-off.
Despite his stumbling finish he was able to celebrate his 34th birthday from the previous day by collecting his fourth European Tour title - and three were won in play-offs.
Both players parred the 18th three times in the play-off and the title was decided at the ninth.
Bickerton missed the green and holed a 12-foot par putt but Fasth, who had struck a nine-iron 145 yards to five feet, got the job done.
The overnight leader, England's David Griffiths, slipped to a disappointing 72 and a share of third place.
Colin Montgomerie finished nine strokes away from the play-off after a closing 71.
In New Orleans, Chris Couch defied gusting winds to take charge at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Saturday as Phil Mickelson climbed into contention.
Couch, who has made two cuts in nine starts on the 2006 PGA Tour, fired an eight-under-par 64 to forge one shot clear in the third round.
The unheralded American, 32, reeled off nine birdies before dropping his only shot at the par-four last, finishing at 12-under 204.
The overnight leader, Joe Durant, battled back from six bogeys in the first 10 holes to compile a 73, a curling 25-footer for birdie at the last earning him a tie for second with fellow American Charles Howell III (66).
His compatriots, Dean Wilson (66) and Cameron Beckman (67), shared fourth place at 10-under 206 with Mickelson one stroke back.
- INDEPENDENT
