Ferrie Sinks Wakefield in Play-off

Ferrie beats Wakefield in a playoff to claim the Austrian Open

ATZENBRUGG, September 25, 2011 (AFP) - England's Kenneth Ferrie won his first title for six years on Sunday when he defeated compatriot Simon Wakefield in a play-off to clinch the Austrian Open.

The English pair both finished 12 under par at Diamond Country Club before Ferrie triumphed at the first extra hole.

It was 32-year-old's fifth career title but first since the 2005 European Open after which he tried to make a breakthrough on the US tour.

Overnight leader Thomas Norret of Denmark led until a double bogey seven at the 13th eventually saw his challenge collapse.

Ferrie, Wakefield and Dutchman Joost Luiten all advanced to 12 under, but Luiten three-putted the last.

At the 18th tee, Ferrie was a shot ahead but Wakefield, who won last year's qualifying school, responded with a magnificent approach from the rough to six feet.

Ferrie then missed a putt for the title which sent the two players back to the 18th tee for the first extra hole.

Ferrie found the rough with his drive but still produced an approach to six feet.

Wakefield overshot the green and when he failed to get up-and-down Ferrie had two putts for the title, although he only needed one.

Norret was fourth while there was a top-ten finish in his first professional event for 20-year-old Walker Cup star Tom Lewis, who hit the headlines when he led this year's British Open after the first round.

Leading and selected final round scores at the Austrian Open at the Diamond Country Club, Atzenbrugg, on Sunday (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72):

276 - Kenneth Ferrie 72-70-67-67 (Kenneth Ferrie won on the 1st extra hole), Simon Wakefield 73-66-70-67

277 - Joost Luiten (NED) 67-70-72-68

279 - Thomas Norret (DEN) 67-70-70-72

280 - Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 72-71-67-70, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 70-71-71-68, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 72-72-70-66

281 - Christian Nilsson (SWE) 71-70-70-70, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 71-75-67-68

282 - Gary Orr 69-71-72-70, Robert Coles 72-65-72-73, Tommy Fleetwood 72-72-69-69, Tom Lewis 74-70-70-68

283 - Liam Bond 66-74-74-69, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 73-69-70-71, Alastair Forsyth 74-69-70-70, Mark Brown (NZL) 71-70-69-73, Andreas Harto (DEN) 73-71-71-68

284 - Christoph Gunther (GER) 72-71-69-72, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 71-71-72-70

285 - Joakim Haeggman (SWE) 69-72-70-74, Gary Murphy 72-68-72-73, Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 74-71-73-67, Daniel Gaunt (AUS) 67-72-74-72, Marc Warren 70-73-75-67, Oliver Wilson 72-71-74-68, Emanuele Canonica (ITA) 71-68-77-69, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 73-73-73-66, Philip Golding 74-68 70 73

Selected

287 - Padraig Harrington 75-70-70-72

288 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 69-68-78-73

294 - Alex Haindl (RSA) 73-74-77-70