Tom McKibbin carded a final-round 69 to secure fourth place at the Open de Espana as England's Marco Penge emerged triumphant after a play-off with compatriot Daniel Brown.
Down man McKibbin had been well placed going into Sunday's tournament climax at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, and a solid round ensured he finished on 12 under par, three shots behind Penge and Brown after 72 holes.
Part of the penultimate group to take to the course, McKibbin made a slow start with bogeys on the first and third.
A birdie on the par-5 fourth saw him bounce back briefly before another bogey on the sixth. However, he again bounced back quickly, this time with back-to-back birdies on the next two holes.
The back nine was much more steady with birdies on 10, 15 and 18, with the only bogey coming on 13.
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Penge has now qualified for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale as well as an invitation to Augusta by winning his third DP World Tour title this season, following victories at the Hainan Classic and Danish Golf Championship.
A procession to victory appeared on the cards as Penge went into the final day with a four-stroke lead after Saturday's blistering 64.
Despite a one-over-par 72 on Sunday, he remained three clear after 12 holes and with Brown needing treatment to his right shoulder and neck, there seemed little threat to Penge.
It even appeared at one point that Brown may have to retire from second place - but he dug deep to birdie three of the last six holes and force a play-off.
He could not match Penge's birdie at the first extra hole, however, as the long-time leader finally got over the line.
"It's crazy," he said. "It's a golf course that I've always wanted to play, because I feel like my game sets up really good for it.
"Dan and Joel (Girrbach) played great today, they were holing putts and I just couldn't really get it in the hole, it felt like I was really up against it.
"But I felt like I managed myself really well and I actually think tee to green, I feel like I played really solid. It doesn't matter the putts, I think I used them all yesterday, but obviously holing that one there was worth the wait."
Additional reporting: PA
