Scarpa gains first European Tour title

Italian Massimo Scarpa survived a close finish to claim his first European Tour title with a one stroke victory in the North West of Ireland Open.

The Monaco-based 30-year-old carded a final-round 70 for a 13-under par total of 275 at Slieve Russell to claim the £35,000 first prize and an equally valuable one-year tour exemption.

Swede Mikael Lundberg finished second after also carding a 70 with England's Andrew Beal in third on 11 under, also after a closing 70.

Scarpa, in the last group out, was playing the 17th when the players were forced off the course by the threat of lightning in the area.

When play resumed after a short delay he could only manage a bogey five but, fortunately for him, playing partner Lundberg dropped a shot as well to keep Scarpa's one-shot cushion intact, and a par on the par five 18th was good enough for victory.

"I'm very proud, especially to follow Costantino Rocca," said Scarpa, who followed in his more illustrious compatriot's footsteps by winning this "double badge" event open to both main and Challenge Tour members.

"I got used to winning on the Challenge Tour and won four times in 1998 but this feels different. Mikael played really well and the eagle on the 13th was the decisive moment because I didn't putt well all day."

Scarpa had begun the day one shot ahead of the field on 11 under and still lead at the turn after an outward half of 36 as various challengers caught him only to fall back.

He was just one in front of a large group of players with six holes to play when the crucial moment indeed came on the par five 13th, rolling in a 20ft putt for an eagle while Lundberg's eagle putt lipped out.

Both players then birdied the next from six feet and Lundberg ensured a tight finish with another birdie on the 16th but Scarpa held his nerve after the delay to seal the win.

Meanwhile Beal was delighted with his third place in a rare start this season, the 34-year-old from Salisbury's appearances limited after losing his card last season.

An outward half of 36 threatened to see him drop down the leaderboard but he battled back with an inward 34, spurred on by being warned for slow play by tournament officials.

"I could have played better in parts and things were not quite going my way but there was some gritty stuff out there which was good," said Beal, whose wife Claire is expecting their second child in October.

"We were put on the clock after losing a ball on the 10th which I was not very happy with because we quickly made up the ground but it actually spurred me on.

"I made a good bogey on the 12th if there is such a thing. I hit my tee shot left into a terrible lie and tried to chop it but didn't hit it far enough. It was still behind a tree. I was pretty despondent but then knocked it virtually stiff with my fourth shot from 107 yards."

Beal then birdied the next two holes, despite being warned he took too long over a putt on the par five 13th.

"It was a 50ft putt downhill that I could have putted into the water so I thought I'd better take my time!" he added. There was disappointment for the home crowd with Kilkenny's Gary Murphy faltering after a good start.

Murphy, who had backed himself at 80-1 at the start of the week, briefly held the lead after a birdie on the fourth but in a rollercoaster round had four birdies and five bogeys and had to settle for a closing 73 and share of seventh on nine under par.

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