Golf

Jordan Smith takes playoff chance to claim European Open

Englishman held off defending champion Alexander Levy in a playoff in Hamburg

Jordan Smith of England poses with the trophy after winning the Porsche European Open at Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg, Germany. Photo: Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Sun Jul 30 2017 - 18:13

Jordan Smith claimed his first European Tour title after a play-off at the Porsche European Open near Hamburg.

Smith, from Bath, won at the second extra hole after finishing tied with defending champion Alex Levy on 13 under — but only after the Frenchman had missed a putt to win from inside three feet on the pair's first trip back down the 18th.

The 24-year-old Smith, who held a two shot lead overnight, began his final round with a birdie but dropped shots on the sixth and eighth to leave the door ajar for Levy, who shot a closing 69, to challenge for the lead on the back nine.

Smith regained the lead with a birdie from three feet at the 11th but left his bunker shot at the 13th short and missed a 20 footer for par.

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Levy and Smith both birdied the 15th and it was the former who went ahead with another gain at the next, only for Smith to get up-and-down at the last to force a play-off with a round of 71.

Levy then missed a three-foot birdie effort as they replayed the 18th hole, but when Smith was presented with a similar opportunity on the next trip down the last he made no mistake.

Lone Irishman to make the cut, amateur Paul McBride, finished with a third consecutive round of 72 for a tied-47th finish at two under par.

Sweden's Johan Edfors (70) and Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman (68) finished tied for third on 11 under, while Scotland's Richie Ramsay and England's Ashley Chesters both recorded top-ten finishes.

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