Weekend winners: Levy doubles up in China with play-off success

European Tour: China Open – Alexander Levy

France’s Levy made it two wins in four years after making a birdie at the first play-off hole against Dylan Frittelli. The South African had dazzled all week, opening up with rounds of 70-63-64 to lead Pablo Larrazabal by three and was five clear after the Spaniard bogeyed the first two holes.

And he was still four clear after 11 holes but then doubled the next. The lead was back to two after he drove the short par-4 15^th but a wayward drive at the next cost him a shot and Levy then birdied the last for a 67.

Frittelli (74) had birdied the 18^th for the first three days but then missed the hospitality to the left and couldn’t get up and down for victory.

Then it was back down the par-5 18^th where Levy did the honours with a birdie four.

Larrazabal birdied the 18th to complete a closing 72 and finish third, a shot ahead of Chris Wood and last week’s winner Bernd Wiesberger.

Every shot of the dramatic playoff ?#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/MjE2v85PUd

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 30, 2017

What Levy said: “On the 12th I saw the leaderboard and I was four shots behind and I came onto 15 and saw it was only one shot and I was really surprised. At that moment I started thinking I can win this tournament.

“It’s a goal and a dream for me to play the Ryder Cup in France. I will do a lot of work to play the Ryder Cup and I will do my best to be part of the team.

“This means a lot because it was the first tournament I won on the European Tour. I won last year after a bad injury and to come back with the win was very tough for me. I’m really happy with what I did.

“Happy birthday to my caddy because it’s his birthday today and I think it’s a really good present.”

PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

It took four extra holes before Cameron Smith rolled in a short birdie putt to give he and Jonas Blixt the title against Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown.

A variety of putts were missed in the first three holes but on their third visit down the 18th Smith, who now qualifies for the Players, pitched to a couple of feet and Kisner and Brown were unable to make their putts.

Kisner had forced the extra time, and extra day, with a chip-in eagle on the final hole, his third of the day, to tie the Aussie and Swede. The winning pair finished the week bogey free after 76 holes.

Cameron Smith hit the perfect approach.

At the perfect time.

The best shots from Monday @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/ZZaKXI07CN

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 1, 2017