Lowry wins Sotogrande Cup
Ireland's Shane Lowry took another step towards making his Walker Cup debut next year when he captured the prestigious Sotogrande Cup after a sudden-death play-off.
The Esker Hills man, 21, became the second successive Irish winner when he birdied the fifth extra hole to beat Benjamin Herbert of France and don the traditional yellow jacket awarded to the winner.
Leading by a stroke entering the final round at Sotogrande Golf Club in Spain, the reigning Irish Close and West of Ireland champion closed with a one-under par 71 for an eight-under par total of 280.
Herbert shot a two-under par 70 to force a play-off but it was Lowry who emerged as champion to succeed Rory McIlroy as the winner of the former Sherry Cup.
Ireland finished second behind Scotland in the team championship for the European Nations Cup with Sweden third and Germany fourth
Sotogrande Cup, Sotogrande GC (Par 72)
280 Shane Lowry (Irl) 73 67 69 71; Benjamin Herbert (Fra) 67 72 71 70 (Lowry won with birdie at 5th extra hole)
283 Sean Einhaus (Ger) 73 69 73 68; Moises Cobo Arrayas (Esp) 71 71 69 72; Callum MacAulay (Sco) 69 72 70 72
Other Irish
288 Niall Kearney 74 73 73 68;
292 Cian Curley 77 74 71 70
294 Paul Cutler 79 71 73 71
European Nations Cup
852 Scotland
857 Ireland
861 Sweden, Germany
867 France
869 Spain, Wales
872 Norway
880 England
883 Italy
886 Finland
887 Czech Republic