Lawrie gets Irish Open boost in Spain
Peter Lawrie has set his sights on challenging for the Irish Open after making a sterling defence of his Spanish Open title in Girona.
The Dubliner closed with a three under 69 at PGA Golf de Catalunya to finish four shots behind winner Thomas Levet in joint third on 14-under par.
It was Lawrie's second successive top-10 finish and he's hoping to maintain his good run of form when he returns to action at Baltray in two weeks' time.
"I've had two top tens in a row and I have a week off and I'm going to Ireland with a bit of form," said Lawrie, who had an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys in his 69.
"You'd love to have that opportunity there, to be in contention on the back nine in the Irish Open. If the breaks go your way, maybe you can take the trophy home.
"I know Baltray well and I have played a lot of golf there. I am looking forward to it and and a little bit of local knowledge will go a long way. The golf game is in good shape, so bring on the Irish Open."
Leading by two strokes from 35-year old Engish rookie Stuart Davis overnight, Levet overcame a shaky start to post a final round 66 that left him two strokes clear of Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti on 18 under par.
The Frenchman had two bogeys and a birdie in his first four holes as Davis began with three birdies to race two clear.
But Davis double-bogeyed the short fifth and he eventually slumped to a 78 that left him tied 15th on six-under.
Zanotti scorched to the turn in 31 and eventually carded a seven-under par 65 to claim solo second place as Levet moved back in front with three successive birdies from the sixth and played the back nine in two under par to keep his rivals at bay.
The French star then dedicated his fifth European Tour win to Seve Ballesteros, who underwent four operations late last year after the discovery of a brain tumour and is still having chemotherapy.
"I always think about Seve, he is having a hard time at the moment," said 40-year-old Levet.
Then, looking into a television camera, he added: "Seve, I dedicate this win to you."
Lawrie was three behind Levet starting the day and went into the back nine just two behind the Frenchman.
After a birdie at the third and a bogey at the par three fifth, he eagled the par five seventh thanks to a glorious three wood to just five feet but then bogeyed the par-three eighth.
On the back nine, the Irish star birdied the 14th and 15th to to get within two shots of Levet but failed to hole good birdie chances at the last three holes and ended up tied with a fast-finishing Thomas Bjorn.
Up to 37th in the Race to Dubai after pocketing a cheque for €112,600, Lawrie said: "I gave a good showing and gave myself a good chance to win the tournament playing the back nine. Unfortunatley, I just didn't hole enough putts today. I played the golf to do it but just didn't get the breaks.
"I had good chances on 16, 17 and 18 and unfortunatley missed all three. That would have changed things for me and I could possibly have finished second my myself, but I am happy the way it has turned out.
"I looked (at the leaderboard) on the 12th and knew I had to finish well. Then I looked coming up the last and he (Levet) had made another birdie on 17 so it was really just trying to finish second or third but I missed that chance on the last ."
Tied sixth at halfway, Paul McGinley struggled at the weekend with rounds of 75 and 73 leaving him tied for 31st on six-under par.
The Dubliner missed too many fairways and greens and failed to resolve his problems with his putter.
Averaging just 26 putts for the first two rounds, he had 32 putts on Saturday and Sunday.
Gary Murphy was tied 65 on four over par after a closing 71.