Wiltshire tour pro Jordan Smith claimed his maiden European Tour title with a play-off victory over Alex Levy at the Porsche European Open in Germany.
The lead changed hands throughout the afternoon at Green Eagle Golf Courses in Hamburg, as Levy and Smith, who held the third round lead, were engaged in an exciting final-round battle.
Levy led by a single shot as he stood at the 18th tee, but when playing partner Smith holed his ten-foot birdie putt to join the Frenchman at the top of the leaderboard at 13 under, he was forced to tap in his tricky par putt to force a play-off.
Both players reached the putting surface in two at the first extra hole, but Levy was in the box seat after sending his eagle putt to within three feet, with Smith another 12 feet away from the hole.
The 24-year-old from Chippenham missed his tricky putt, leaving Levy with the chance to finish the contest, but he missed his close-range birdie effort, so the pair headed back to the 18th tee.
After Smith sent his monster eagle putt to within three feet of the hole during the second play-off hole, the 2016 Challenge Tour Road to Oman winner tapped in his close-range birdie effort to secure his maiden European Tour victory in his 25th event.
The achievement means Smith joins an illustrious list of players who have won a European Tour title in their rookie year. It also caps off a memorable journey for the Aggreko-sponsored golfer who, since turning professional in 2014, has claimed both the PGA EuroPro Tour and Challenge Tour Order of Merit titles. This imperious form has continued into his European Tour rookie year, where he enjoyed seven top-25 finishes.
“Two years ago I was playing on the EuroPro Tour, and then last year on the Challenge Tour, so to win in my first year on the European Tour is a bit surreal,” said Smith, who is attached to Bowood Hotel Golf & Spa Resort in Wiltshire. “It’s been nerve-wracking at times, but I have really enjoyed it. I had a really good start to the year, and the main aim was just to secure my Tour card, which I managed to do. And then the second goal was to win an event, which I’ve also managed to do.”