Willey Wins Tug Of War - 23/07/2007

ANDREW WILLEY won his second PGA EuroPro Tour title with victory in The PartyPoker.com International Open at Collingtree Park GC in a play-off on Friday.

Willey, the winner at China Fleet last year, edged out Simon Griffiths to take the £10,000 winner's cheque in Northampton.

Both Willey and his playing partner Griffiths shot rounds of 66 to move out to -9 for the tournament on the final day - with Willey actually having a chance to take victory in regulation.

He led by a shot going up the 18th and took the safe option of laying up before the island green - only to see Asian Tour member Griffiths play a superb three wood second shot onto the green and take a birdie from ten feet.

Willey then missed a two-foot putt to take outright victory before holing out for par to send the event into a play-off.

The pair returned to the 18th tee for the first extra hole, with Willey producing a drive and then a five iron to ten feet and Griffiths playing his tee shot right, his second shot into the water on the left and his third, a nine iron, landing in the greenside lake.

He conceded to give Willey the title - a great way for the player to bounce back from the disappointment of leading by three shots with nine holes remaining last week at Mollington, only to see victory slide out of his grasp on the back nine.

"I'm delighted, it's a great feeling," said Willey. "After last week's experience, it is pleasing to be back at the top of the leaderboard so soon.

"Simon had a great final round but I'm very pleased that I managed to keep my cool in the play-off."

Willey had a superb round on Friday, hitting eight birdies - including four in a row from the 14th to 17th holes - and an eagle.

Griffiths shot an eagle and five birdies in his 66 as he went to within a whisker of triumph.

Welshman David Price took third place at -7 after posting the day's best round of 65, in which he hit seven birdies and dropped no shots in a flawless effort.

David Clark, Sandeep Grewal and Daniel Greenwood shared fourth place at five-under-par, with Neil Walker, Darren Prosser, Yasin Ali and Matt Morris a further shot back.

Joint second round leader Sean Whiffin was among six players tied at -3 after he shot a 73 on Friday, while fellow front-runner Matthew Richardson finished alone at level par.

The young prospect finished the tournament with a disappointing 76, bogeying the 17th before hitting a nightmare eight on the par-five last hole to slip down the leaderboard.

The PartyPoker.com International Open - Final Result

The PGA EuroPro Tour continues at Bovey Castle next Tuesday with The Bovey Castle Championship.