JOSE MANUEL LARA WINS AUSTRIA OPEN IN A PLAY-OFF.

What a difference two weeks can make in the life of a tour golfer. Jose Manuel Lara was struggling to keep his tour card, having missed 9 consecutive cuts, when he tee'd off in the KLM Dutch Open. He finished 4th and with his confidence restored, he headed for the Austrian Open.

Lara opened with a 66, followed up with a 71 and 70 and closed with a brilliant 66 to set the clubhouse target of 17 under par. Overnight leader David Lynn joined him on that score, while Graeme McDowell, Alexander Noren and Danny Willett fell off the pace to finish in joint 3rd on -14.

Lara won at the first tie-hole with a par, as Lynn drove into the rough and couldn't make the green in regulation.

Two weeks ago, Lara was facing a visit to tour school with an uncertain future. Now he is up to 93rd in the Race to Dubai and has guaranteed his future for the next two years with an exemption on the European Tour.

As well as Graeme McDowell finishing 3rd, Damien McGrane was 6th on 13 under par after rounds of 67,76,67,65. Simon Thornton is getting closer to keeping his tour card. He won €7,012 for a share of 26th place on 6 under par and Gary Murphy got through the cut on the +1 mark. He finished well down in 64th on 4 over par.