GOLF:PETER LAWRIE continued a remarkable run on the European Tour by becoming the third Irish winner in a row after landing the Spanish Open in a play-off on a day when Michael Hoey completed an Irish double by winning the Moroccan Classic on the Challenge Tour.

Lawrie began the day five shots behind Ignacio Garrido's overnight lead, but a late run of four birdies in the last six holes ensured the Dubliner signed for a closing 67 to set the clubhouse target on 15-under-par in Seville.

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Denmark's Soren Hansen missed too many opportunities on the home stretch, and it was left to Garrido - trying to emulate the win of his father, Antonio, in 1972 - to catch Lawrie.

Needing a birdie at the last, Garrido found the green with his approach but was 40 feet from the hole. Just when the title looked to be Lawrie's, the 35-year-old then holed the long birdie effort to tie for the lead and force a play-off.

"I thought I'd won after 72 holes," said Lawrie, who was waiting in the scorer's hut. "I was telling my caddie Dermot to pack the bags for our nine o'clock flight. Then he holed it and it was back to business."

The 432-yard 18th was used for the sudden death play-off and Lawrie's nine-iron approach finished 25 feet behind the flag as Garrido knocked it in to four-feet. An afternoon of high drama saw Lawrie take his turn to hole a most unlikely effort from above the cup to match Garrido's birdie.

At the second time of asking Lawrie found the same fairway bunker on the 18th as he did in regulation. However, he played a wonderful eight-iron into 15 feet, while Garrido's wedge landed on the green but spun off the left side to find water and end the contest.

"I'll enjoy this moment for a long time because I've let a Spanish Open slip before," said Lawrie, referring to the 2003 play-off when he and Sweden's Peter Hedblom lost to England's Kenneth Ferrie.

Lawrie graduated to the main tour after winning the 2002 Grand Final on the Challenge Tour, and became the first Irishman to win the Rookie of the Year award in 2003. Lawrie's maiden win is the fourth Irish tour success in seven weeks as he joins Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and his room-mate on tour Damien McGrane.

"When I see these guys winning I say to myself, 'Why can't I do that?' There's no doubt, it spurs you on," added Lawrie.

Hoey's third Challenge Tour win came when he carded a closing 68 for a 12-under 276 aggregate to win by one shot.