Golf: So close for Welsh

Dec 14 2007 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

WELSH hearts were broken in Spain as they just missed out on landing the PGA of Europe International Team Championship in a sudden-death play-off.

The Welsh trio of Andrew Barnett, Jimmy Lee and Royal Porthcawl’s Peter Evans came within a whisker of claiming their second title at Roda Beach and Golf Resort in Murcia.

In the end the honour went to Austria after a head-to-head decider between PGA Cup man Barnett and Austria’s Scottish-born Gordon Manson.

Both countries were all square after the regulation 72 holes at 25 under par, but Manson sank a 12-foot putt at the second play-off hole in fading light to finally conquer Wales.

“We were obviously gutted to miss out on winning, but the whole experience has been fantastic,” said Barnett, who shot a final round of five-under-par 67.

“We played really well throughout the week. We set ourselves a target of six under each day and we beat that by one.”

In one of the closest championships ever a play-off came about after final-green heroics from both sides.

Florian Ruprecht sank a long birdie putt to leave Lee having to achieve a similar feat to earn a play-off. His effort threatened to lip out of the cup, but it dropped.

The 486-metres, par-five 18th green was chosen as the play-off hole.

At the first time of asking both got regulation pars, but, at the second attempt, Manson played a fine approach shot and Barnett failed with a long putt – and it was all over.