Ryder Cup boost for Casey

Fast-finishing Paul Casey signalled his Ryder Cup intent with a play-off win in the Volvo China Open.

But there was also a K Club boost for Dubliner Peter Lawrie, who doubled his points haul when he finished sixth to earn €38,753 in his first start of the 2006 campaign.

Casey clawed back a five-shot deficit to beat countryman Oliver Wilson at the first play-off hole.

He hit a closing 65 to set the clubhouse target on 13 under par before winning his fifth European Tour title with a birdie at the 18th in extra time.

The winner’s cheque for €184,533 catapulted him into the European Ryder Cup team in just the second event of the 2006 season.

In March Casey beat Paul McGinley in sudden death to take the TCL Classic in China.

But he failed to push on from there and decided to set new goals once the Ryder Cup qualification period started in Switzerland in September.

He said: “I felt that was like a fresh start I played some very good golf since then.

“I came here to get world ranking points and Ryder Cup points and I have achieved that.

"I'm very happy that I've accomplished what I came here to do but it wasn't easy.”

Casey never seriously believed he could win the title when he trailed leader Chawalit Plaphol by eight shots at halfway.

But he played the next two rounds in nine under par to surge through the field.

Former Walker Cup star Wilson looked certain to win when he birdied four holes in a row from the 12th to lead by one with just two holes to play.

But Wilson, 25, bogeyed the 17th and failed to birdie the par five 18th.

In sudden death, Casey two putted from 25 feet for a winning birdie as Wilson went from one greenside to another on his way to a bogey six.

Veteran Barry Lane birdied the 17th and 18th to claim outright third place ahead of Oliver Fisher and Plaphol with Lawrie sixth after a closing 69.

The Dubliner was left to regret early bogeys at the second and third but bounced back with a birdie at the eighth before picking up four shots in the last seven holes.

The Heritage’s Gary Murphy has slumped to last place after a third round 77 but finished with a 70 to finish tied 58th on two over and earn €3,100.

(Volvo China Open, Shenzen, Par 72)

275 Paul Casey 71 69 70 65 (€184,533) Oliver Wilson 68 67 71 69 (€123,022)

(Casey won at first play-off hole)

276 Barry Lane 67 74 67 68 (€69,312)

277 Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 65 67 74 71, Ross Fisher 69 68 68 72 (€51,154 each)

278 Peter Lawrie 69 72 68 69 (€38,753)

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290 Gary Murphy 71 72 77 70