Joakim Backstrom wins in playoff

Swede Joakim Backstrom claimed the Saint-Omer Open title and a one-year European Tour exemption when he beat Britain's Paul Dwyer in a sudden-death playoff on Sunday.

The pair had finished a stroke ahead of the field on four-under-par 280 and Backstrom, who birdied the last to get into the shootout, then took the title with a par at the first extra hole after Dwyer missed a two-foot putt to bogey.

As the tough course and conditions took their toll, Backstrom's one-under-par 70 and a 68 by Dwyer took them to the top of the leaderboard before the Swede earned instant promotion to the full European Tour with his maiden victory.

"Having a one-year exemption means everything," said Backstrom.

"I've been sitting by my phone most weeks, wondering whether I was going to get into tournaments and now I can plan my schedule."

Britain's James Heath looked to have the title in his grasp when leading by two strokes with four holes to go but the 22-year-old Nick Faldo protege had problems with his grip in humid conditions, double-bogeying the 15th through missing the green.

A bogey on the last ended his chance of taking part in the playoff.

Heath's closing 72 left him sharing third place with two more Swedes, Michael Jonzon and Steven Jeppesen, with the disappointed British youngster now having to regroup if he is to realise his ambition of earning a tour card from seven invitations this season.

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