Dramatic Play-Off Win For Smith - 19/11/2007

MARK SMITH snatched a dramatic victory from the clutches of Graeme Clark in a play-off at The Whittlebury Park International Open.

Smith has been arguably the most consistent player on the 2005 PGA EuroPro Tour, finishing in the top ten nine times in 16 events before the visit to Towcester.

However, his record of failing to win an event looked set to continue when he ended his final round one shot behind Clark - who had held onto a one-shot lead at -13 going onto the final tee.

Smith watched on as Doncaster's Clark three-putted to bogey the 18th and slip back to join the Erewash Valley golfer on -12 to force a play-off.

And, despite seeing his tee shot land in the face of a fairway bunker, Smith secured his first victory of 2005 with a birdie as the duo battled it out in the first extra hole.

He saw a putt from the fringe of the green drop in for a four before Clark missed his own birdie putt which would have forced a second play-off hole.

"It's a massive weight off my shoulders," admitted Smith.

"I worked hard all winter, changed my swing and worked on a few other things with my coach Lee Scarbrow and I've been pretty consistent all year.

"To be honest, I thought this was going to be another second place! I'd finished and could see that Graeme was in a good position on the 18th.

"But he three-putted from the front of the green so I had to get my head around that on the way back for the play-off.

"Then I hit my tee shot into the face of the bunker and thought I'd blown it! But I managed to recover and hole my putt first time.

"Graeme probably had an easier shot to force us to go back down, but he missed. My emotions have been so up and down - it's amazing!"

Australian Glenn Joyner claimed third place, with a final round of 65 seeing him finish on -11, although he will rue a bogey at the last which cost him a place in the play-off.

Six players tied for fourth place at -8, including Stephen Pullan, who shot the day's best round of 64 to join Robert McGuirk, Martin Sell, Joe Templer, Phil Rowe and Dean Barnes among the chasing pack.

Yasin Ali and Phil Worthington ended the tournament two shots further back on -6 ater final rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.

The Whittlebury Park International Open - Final Round Leaderboard