Relaxed approach works for Horsey in Munich

Just when it looked as though local hope Alex Cejka might be in a play-off for the BMW International Open, 25-year-old Horsey, birdied two of the last three holes to grab the 279,334 first prize.

And it ended up an English one-two when Ross Fisher eagled the par-five 18th to take the runners-up spot one shot behind his compatriot.

Horsey's bogey-free closing round of 67 gave him an 18-under-par total of 270, but as he celebrated Welshman Bradley Dredge and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal were left down in the dumps.

Both double-bogeyed the 319-yard 16th when leading, whereas Cheshire-based Horsey, a team-mate of Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup, pitched over the water to eight feet and made the birdie putt.

He was trying to avoid the leaderboards at that stage and laying up on the 568-yard last might have cost him dear, but instead he played another superb approach and holed from six feet for another birdie.

With Fisher finishing as he did Dredge, Cejka and Larrazabal had to settle for a share of third place with another Englishman, Kenneth Ferrie, and another Spaniard, Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Dredge had led from the opening day and had only one bogey in his first 63 holes, but it all started to go wrong for him – and his hopes of climbing into contention for a Ryder Cup debut on home soil in October –when he three-putted the 10th.

He did the same on the short 12th, missing from under 12 feet, and Larrazabal, who had eagled the 11th, took over at the top with a birdie on the 15th.

First the Barcelona player pitched into the edge of the lake, splashed out over the green and duffed a chip – as he did on the 17th to drop another shot.

Then Dredge, suddenly back in front, made a total hash of his pitch to the 16th as well.

He was lucky to avoid the water, but also went over the green and his chip back almost ran into the hazard.

His six left him needing an albatross on the last to tie. Argentina's Rafa Echenique got one on the hole last year, but the best Dredge could do was birdie.

Horsey, winner of the "second division" Challenge Tour in his first full season as a professional, said: "It's unbelievable and it's not sunk in yet.

"Coming down the last I didn't know what was going on. I just wanted to concentrate on what I was doing.

"The last few weeks have been a bit of a struggle (having missed three cuts in a row) and I just wanted to make sure I relaxed this week.

"This win is what I've been trying to get for over a year.

"I felt I was good enough coming out on Tour, but maybe I put a little bit too much pressure on myself."

He has further reason for celebration as his mother has just finished treatment for both breast and ovarian cancer.

Larrazabal blamed poor preparation by himself and his brother – who caddies for him – for his blunder on the 16th.

He said: "I thought I had only three or four metres (of green) behind the flag, but I had eight. These things you do in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"I lost the tournament there. I have to admit it was a big mistake from us."

Karen Lunn of Australia claimed her first Ladies European Tour title since 1993 as she edged England's Trish Johnson by a shot at Campo Real in Portugal.

Lunn shot a seven-under round of 65, with an eagle and three birdies on the outward nine setting her victory.