Rice Wins After Play-Off Drama - 05/06/2008
TIM RICE claimed the 2004 Casinos Algarve Quinta da Ria Masters after a dramatic play-off victory over Lee Slattery. 
At the picturesque Quinta de Cima course on the Portugese Algarve, Rice, who turns 27 on June 3, took the £12,000 winners' cheque after edging out Slattery by a single shot at the second extra hole.
"It's a great feeling to win, the Limerick golfer said. "It was close all the way but I had been playing well and I'm delighted to have come out on top.
"Hopefully this result will stand me in good stead for the rest of the season."
Slattery, who had broken the course record with a 64 on day two, banked £6,000 for finishing second and admitted he had also received a confidence boost from his performance.
Stoneham's Darren Henley had led the way after the first day's play, carding a five-under-par 67 in glorious weather conditions.
With the course in a perfect state, the scoring was impressive as ten players bunched themselves within two shots of Henley.
But although the second day brought much of the same weather, the leading pack struggled to maintain their form as the chasers made good progress.
Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) shot a 66 to put himself on top of the pile with a nine-under-par 135 whilst Ralph Miller's 65 catapulted him in to joint third alongside Teignmouth's Sean Mason - both on seven-under-par.
But the star of the show was Slattery, who hit a course record 64 (eight-under-par) to move in to second place behind Smith.
57 players made the cut to battle it out for the money and Rice set his stall out with a magnificent 65 to force a play-off against Slattery for the title.
Slattery had birdied the first four holes and then parred his way in to finish on 12-under-par, two shots ahead of Smith and three in front of Ian Walley (Branston) who made a late dash in to the places thanks to a final round 67.
At the first play-off hole Slattery eased to his par and Rice bagged a tricky downhill six-foot put to keep the game going.
Second time around Slattery's second shot carried ten feet past the green with Rice putting to two feet with his third shot.
Slattery needed to nail his ten foot put to force a third extra hole but it wasn't to be and Rice took the title.
| POS
| SCORE
| TOTAL
| NAME
| CLUB
| RND 1
| RND 2
| RND 3
| PRIZE £
| | 1
| -12
| 204
| Tim Rice
| Limerick
| 72
| 67
| 65
| £12,000
| | 2
| -12
| 204
| Lee Slattery
| Formby Hall
| 72
| 64
| 68
| £6,000
| | 3
| -10
| 206
| Mark Smith
| Erewash Valley
| 69
| 66
| 71
| £3,000
| | 4
| -9
| 207
| Ian Walley
| Branston
| 70
| 70
| 67
| £2,500
| | 5=
| -8
| 208
| Chris Sands
| Surrenda-Link
| 71
| 69
| 68
| £
| | 5=
| -8
| 208
| Colm Moriarty
| Glasson
| 68
| 72
| 68
| £
|
Photo (l-r): Mark Smith, Tim Rice, Lee Slattery .
|
