Alvaro Quiros wins Rocco Forte Open

Alvaro Quiros has beaten Zander Lombard in a play–off to mark a stunning return to form and win his seventh European Tour title at The Rocco Forte Open –Verdura, Sicily.

The Spaniard's last win came in 2011 and he had dropped to 703rd in the Official World Golf Ranking and lost his playing privileges since, deciding to focus on the Challenge Tour in 2017.

A brilliant week in Italy, however, means he is now back on the European Tour and will move into the top 250 in the world after a par on the second trip back up the last handed him victory.

But he did not make things easy for himself, that's for sure!

He got off to a cracking start, with birdies on the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th. But then the wheels started falling off. He dropped shots on the 8th and 10th, and then had a dreadful run of holes from the 15th through 17th, with a double bogey and two bogeys either side of it. 

He managed to par the 18th, but the damage had been done and he was now faced with a play–off against South Africa's Zander Lombard. A par on the second trip back up the 18th was enough to take him to victory.

It's great to see Alvaro back on the main tour, and in the winner's circle once again. He is a lovely fellow, with a sparkling sense of humour.

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