Irish Open:Amateur Shane Lowry lived the dream and displayed all the composure of a seasoned pro to become the most unlikely winner from a play-off at the 3 Irish Open at Baltray this afternoon. In doing so the 22-year-old became just the third amateur ever to win on the European Tour. To do it on home soil was all the sweeter.

The magnitude of Lowry’s effort cannot be overestimated for what the Esker Hills player achieved was truly remarkable. Despite a wobble mid-round the Offaly native regained his composure to close with a final round 71 for a 17-under 271 aggregate to tie with England’s Robert Rock who also closed with a 71.

At the 72nd hole the home favourite was in the box seat after recovering from a wayward drive right. From a tricky lie he played a fairway wood 40 yards short of the green while Rock sprayed his second way right at the par five.

Rock managed to find the green but was 25 feet away and two-putted for par. Lowry played a wonderful approach that spun and rested three feet from the cup to leave a birdie attempt to win the Irish Open. It was dream world stuff. With former Irish team mate Rory McIlroy looking on it was unfortunate to see Lowry’s quick action take hold as the plus-five handicapper pulled the putt to force sudden-death.

In the play-off Lowry found a fairway bunker off the tee, played out and hit a great rescue club onto the 18th green in regulation. A par was good enough as Rock missed his birdie effort from 12 feet.

Playing the 18th second time around both found the fairway. Rock’s driver from the deck found the greenside bunker while Lowry hit, arguably, the shot of the week when he squeezed a fairway wood on the wind to finish within 12 feet under extreme pressure. Rock bravely got up and down and Lowry missed his eagle chance.

The head-to-head contest was decided at the third play-off hole where a two-putt par was good enough for Lowry as Rock failed to get up and down from the back of the 18th green.

As an amateur Lowry wasn’t entitled to the €500,000 winner’s cheque; that was guaranteed to Rock before the play-off

“I’m speechless to be honest,” said an emotional Lowry after the roller-coaster play-off. “I thought I’d blown my chance in regulation play when I missed that putt. I can’t believe what’s just happened this is life-changing stuff.”

Lowry revealed that a few words from McIlroy before the play-off helped him. “Rory came up to me and gave me a few words of encouragement. He just reminded me that I was still in the tournament and that helped.”

The pair have been involved in many duels during their amateur careers and were team-mates when Ireland won the European amateur team championship.

At the start of the final round Lowry got off to a fine start when he pitched and putted for par at the opening hole then parred the next with a long two putt from the front of the green. His first birdie of the day came at the par five third where he played a wonderful approach to within 12 feet but the eagle effort came up just short but it was the easiest of tap-in birdies.

The round became a little ragged as the pressure began to tell around the turn when he bogeyed the ninth and 10th to relinquish the lead for the first time. Playing in his first European Tour event he was heard using the F-word several times when picked up by the television mics.

But this is all part of the learning process and never before has the Irish international been under so much pressure in this kind of spotlight.

The 2007 Irish Close winner regained his composure over the back nine and his patience began to pay off as the putts started to drop. He played a fine approach to the 14th and duly rolled in the 12 foot birdie putt to get back into a chare of the lead on 16-under.

Two holes later another fine approach with a wedge to 10 feet from the left hand rough set up his third birdie of the day. By now was one shot ahead of playing Robert Rock in the final group. Credit to Rock for he holed in a long birdie at 17 to tie Lowry going down the last where Lowry was unable to take his chance to win in regulation.

Sweden’s Johan Edfors, the third player in the final group, looked to have run his course after he duffed his greenside pitch at the 14th but still managed to make par. From there the birdies didn’t come and it became a two-horse race playing the 18th. He finished with a birdie at 18 for a 71 to ensure third on 15-under.

Earlier Darren Clarke made his only bogey of the day at the 18th which cost him a top 10 finish, but his closing 70 still left the 40-year-old well placed on six-under. Gary Murphy was two shots further back after he also shot 70.

Rory McIlroy had a day to forget as the 20-year-old closed with a 75 to drop back to level par. That was one shot better than Damien McGrane after his 74. Paul McGinley's 76 left the Dubliner way down the field on four-over.

Completed Irish scores and totals
(Par 72)

-17 Shane Lowry 67, 62, 71, 71
-6 Darren Clarke 71, 68, 73, 70
-4 Gary Murphy 70, 69, 75, 70
L Rory McIlroy 69, 68, 76, 75
+1 Damien McGrane 69,71,75, 74
+4 Paul McGinley 71, 68, 77, 76

(Lowry won at the third play-off hole)