DIEGO BORREGO became the second new champion in successive weeks and the fifth so far this year when he beat Zimbabwe's Tony Johnstone in a playoff for the Turespana Masters on Vaiencia's El Saler links yesterday.

The 24 year old greenkeeper's son from Marbella's Aloha club, had tied with the ex-PGA champion with 20 victories to his credit in Europe and South Africa, on a 17 under par 271, after both had scored a final round of 69. But Borrego, who had been two behind with six holes remaining, triumphed at the third extra hole, the 215 yards 17th, when Johnstone three-putted after the Spaniard had missed the green, but chipped to within two feet of the flag.

Borrego, who follows Scotland's Raymond Russell (Cannes Open) into the champions' enclosure, collected £83,330, more than twice the total amount he earned in the last two years on the Challenge Tour. from which he graduated at the end of 1995. I can hardly believe what has happened to me," he exclaimed. "But I will now take a week off to enjoy this win with my parents."

Peter Baker was third after title-chasing Scots Sam Torrance and Andrew Coltart crashed heavily Torrance opened with a seven and slid to 14th place, but Coltart's demise was even more dramatic. He tumbled to a ten at the third after losing a ball and having an air shot in a bush on the way to a 79 and 42nd spot.

But Padraig Harrington ended a great week in style with an eagle at the 15th and a birdie at the 18th for yet another career best. He was round in 70 for a nine under par 279 to be joint seventh and won £12,162. Last week he was eighth in Cannes, and now, having won £31,203 in the eight tournaments he has played so far, takes his 100 per cent record to this week's Italian Open.

Harrington, who has climbed to 44th place in the Volvo rankings, is now on the brink of securing his Tour card for 1997. When the first re-rank of the Qualifying School graduates is made after the final round in Bergamo next Sunday, he will be certain of the top ten place which will guarantee him starts in the majority of the summer's biggest events.

It was his third round 66 that created the platform for his strong finish which put him one shot ahead of Milltown's Francis Howley, who shot 64 on the second day, and also celebrated a best performance, sharing 11th place with Costantino Rocca and Roger Chapman. He closed with a 69 for 280 to win £8,606.

Harrington started his last leg in the same vein with a birdie three, but in trying to attack the par five third and fifth, took sixes after hooking drives and putting second shots into sandy scrub. However, birdie threes at the eighth and ninth from four and 15 feet enabled him to repair the damage, and no one could cavil at his blistering finish.

After losing a stroke by overshooting the 14th green, he cracked two driver shots to the heart of the 15th and sank a six-yarder for his eagle. At the 18th he executed arguably the shot of the tournament. From a fairway bunker he struck his seven iron recovery 180 yards to within 18 inches of the pin, and duly signed off with the birdie.

It was a great way to finish what has been a very good week for me," said Padraig. "I played a lot better in the last round than on the previous days and I will be going to Italy with my confidence high."

So will Howley, who like Paul McGinley, David Higgins and John McHenry will be missing the Irish PGA championship at Slieve Russell to try and enhance their Tour prospects." I would love to play in Cavan, but my first priority has to be to get my card," said Howley, who started with 76 but was 12 under par for the remaining 54 holes.

Howley has now moved up to 83rd spot in the rankings with winnings of £14,719. Des Smyth also closed with 69 for 281 to earn £7,050 and has now slipped past Raymond Burns, who had 70 for 284 (£3,862) into 32nd spot in the money list.

David Feherty, who closed with 71, also finished on the four under par mark in a share of 30th place, two shots ahead of Ronan Rafferty who was joint 49th following his Saturday 75, with a last round 68 to win £2,250. But the former European number one is still outside the top 100 in the Volvo rankings.

John McHenry had 70 for 290, but finished 66 and won only reserve money of £748.

The prestigious £1 million Dunhill Cup team competition may be moved away from St Andrews - because organisers say the players find the weather too cold.

A report in yesterday's Mail On Sunday suggests organisers want to switch the tournament from the autumn to summer - or they will go elsewhere. Since its inception 11 years ago, the tournament, which attracts the world's best players, has always been staged at the home of golf around October.

But the stars have had to wrap up in several layers of clothing, gloves and woolly hats to be able to stand the extremely cold winds that blow off the sea onto the famous Old Course at that time of year.

"Unless we get a better date this will be the last time we will be at St Andrews," organiser's spokesman John Ingram was quoted as saying.