The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Quiros rallies from brink to snatch crown Late collapse almost so costly

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That proved to be unnecessar­y as Lombard chipped to within inches of the hole to save par on the last, before Quiros impressive­ly holed from 10 feet after splashing out of a greenside bunker.

Both men parred the first

IN ASSOCIATIO­N WITH

extra hole, but Lombard then three-putted the second to allow a grateful Quiros to tap-in for victory and a European Tour exemption until the end of 2018.

Lombard said: “I’m very happy with how I kept myself in contention and all the best for Alvaro.

“He’s a great champion, he’s won in the past and it’s nice to see him win on tour again.

“I’m very pleased with this performanc­e going into next week and hopefully I can keep this form up. It’s a good consolatio­n prize to get into Wentworth for the BMW PGA championsh­ip.

“I suppose winning isn’t everything but I can’t complain, losing in a play-off as it’s anybody’s game with this wind. The main thing I take from this is I can be in contention and I can win. I just need to trust myself and believe that.”

 ??  ?? MY PRIZE: Alvaro Quiros, of Spain, after winning the Rocco Forte Open
MY PRIZE: Alvaro Quiros, of Spain, after winning the Rocco Forte Open

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