Play-off victory ends Chapman's long wait

Roger Chapman ended an 18-year wait for his first European Tour victory last night when he won at the second play-off hole against Padraig Harrington to take the Rio de Janeiro Open.

Chapman's final-round 65, seven under par, hauled him alongside Harrington, closing the five-stroke deficit he faced at the beginning of the final round. Harrington's 70 left the pair on 18 under par, a stroke better than Argentina's Jose Coceres, the recent Dubai Desert Classic champion.

As Chapman flourished, running up six birdies in the first 11 holes, Harrington, who led by two strokes at the start of play, needed to hole a testing five-footer to even make the play-off.

The Irishman looked to have ended a frustrating run of second places, six in 11 months, when Chapman drove into water at the first extra hole, but the 41-year-old salvaged a bogey as Harrington took three putts.

At the next extra hole, it was Harrington's turn to find water. Chapman composed himself to split the fairway and find the green for par to Harrington's bogey.

Chapman's triumph came after 472 tournaments, well over 1,000 rounds and 12 second-place finishes worldwide.