GOLF Irish Sports Council Congratulates Shane Lowry on Clinching the Irish Open

The Irish Sports Council congratulates Shane Lowry on becoming the third amateur to win a European Tour event on Sunday by clinching the Irish Open in a playoff.

Shane is supported by the Irish Sports Council through the Golfing Union of Ireland's (GUI) High Performance Programme which received funding of €330,000 in 2009.

Lowry, 22, defeated British professional Robert Rock at the third extra hole of a sudden-death playoff after both men finished on 17-under-par 271, two strokes better than Swede Johan Edfors.

Although only 16th in the world amateur rankings the youngster from County Offaly belied inexperience and standing to become only the third Irish winner of the event in 27 years.