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