Harper wins after play-off in Surrey - 23/02/2007

SCOT Lee Harper sealed a dramatic victory after a play-off in the final regular event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.

Harper, a member of Archerfield Links, ended on five-under, the same total as Justin Evans, as both men then replayed the 18th hole on the final day of the Ladbrokescasino.com Masters, which was held at the Selsdon Park Hotel and Golf Club in South Croydon, Surrey.

It was a thrilling finale to the last of the main competitions in the 2007 campaign and Harper edged the win to claim the £10,000 top prize with Evans left with £5,000.

Harper had started the third day on four-under but his hopes of winning the tournament looked to be slipping away when he hit a double-bogey six on the 384-yard par-four seventh.

But he turned things round with three birdies in four holes - on the 12th, 14th and 15th - but a bogey on the 17th meant he would be competing in a play-off. Evans had been leader after the first round but lost his advantage with a one-over second round score of 71, despite an eagle on the 15th.

However, he stayed in touch and played his part in the play-off after a final round level par total of 70, which included five birdies and five bogeys.

Australian Nathan Main and England's James Mason finished tied third, with five players - Graeme Clark, Matthew Ford, Andrew Willey, Craig Billing and Jamie Spence - came in level fifth on two-under.

The top 60 players on the Order of Merit list will now play in next month's end of season Tour Championships.

There is a massive incentive for every player as the top five in the Order of Merit at the end of the competition will secure 2008 Challenge Tour cards.

However, there could be a reprieve for the man who ends up in sixth position as Colm Moriarty, who still occupies a top five place at the moment, has already earned a Challenge Tour card after winning an event on their tour earlier this year.