Dramatic birdie gives Rumford win

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland -- Australian Brett Rumford birdied the first play-off hole to claim his third European Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Omega European Masters.

Rumford chipped in from off the 18th green to beat England's Phillip Archer after the pair had finished tied on 16-under-par at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Archer's approach had also run through the green but the 35-year-old -- who carded a closing 65 -- was unable to match Rumford and had to settle for his second runners-up finish this season.

Rumford had led by one with two holes to play but bogeyed the 17th, just as Archer had done 20 minutes earlier.

The 30-year-old from Perth, winner of the St Omer Open in 2003 and Irish Open in 2004, had a birdie putt from 15ft to win in regulation but failed to convert, giving defending champion Bradley Dredge a chance to make it a three-way play-off.

However, Dredge missed from a similar distance to finish third on 15-under-par, one ahead of fellow Welshman Sion Bebb who enjoyed his best ever finish on the European Tour with a closing round of 68. E-mail to a friend