Golf: Rafferty rides in
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RONAN RAFFERTY ended a 17- month drought yesterday when he beat Anders Sorensen, of Denmark, at the first extra hole of a sudden death play-off to win the Austrian Open in Vienna. It was the Irishman's first victory since the Portuguese Open in March last year and he earned it the hard way after being four shots behind Sorensen with 10 holes played.
Sorensen, who was hoping to become the first Dane to win a European Tour event, hit an eagle two at the 448-yards 10th hole and Rafferty said: 'We heard this great roar for Anders' two. I was four shots behind and I was not hitting the ball particularly close to the pins, so I thought he had wrapped it up. But I birdied the last three holes to get into a play-off.'
Both Rafferty and Sorensen finished on 274, 14 under par, and in the play-off on the first hole, both were some four feet from the flag in three. Sorensen missed his putt but Rafferty rolled his in to move to 15th place in the Ryder Cup points table.
AUSTRIAN OPEN (Vienna) Leading final-round scores (GB and Irl unless stated): 274 R Rafferty 65 69 72 68; A Sorensen (Den) 70 67 68 69 (Rafferty won play-off at first extra hole). 275 P-U Johansson (Swe) 70 67 70 68. 276 S Struver (Ger) 72 63 72 69; J Taylor (Aus) 66 71 68 71. 278 G Turner (NZ) 68 67 71 72; P Mayo 68 70 67 73. 280 D R Jones 72 68 70 70; B Barnes 72 68 69 71; S Bowman (US) 72 68 68 72; C Raulerson (US) 68 67 69 76. 281 J Townsend (US) 69 71 70 71; M Clayton (Aus) 67 73 70 71; A Bossert (Swit) 77 67 66 71; D Ray 67 75 68 71. 282 P Broadhurst 67 73 70 72; P Talbot 71 70 72 69; G Hjertstedt (Swe) 70 73 70 69; G Brand jnr 72 69 69 72; D Clarke 73 66 70 73; E O'Connell 67 67 74 74; D Hospital (Sp) 66 73 70 73; P Curry 65 71 72 74; M Mackenzie 68 68 70 76; M Miller 71 67 68 76. 283 J Robson 70 69 72 72; P Mitchell 67 69 73 74; C Williams 71 70 68 74.
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