Marcel Siem started the day with a share of the lead at the Italian Open and made three birdies on the front nine to lead by three shots. The German went on to make four bogeys on the back nine before holing a 22-foot putt for birdie at the 18th to close with a 71 and set up a playoff.
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin had earlier set the target at 10-under with a bogey-free 65 but missed his birdie chance from 12 feet at the first extra hole to lose to Siem. His second place finish has however qualified him for the Open Championship.
“Holing that putt on 18 was one the coolest moments in golf for me and doing it again in a play-off was fantastic,” said Siem, who was playing in just his fourth event back after hip surgery in February.
“I love this sport and these moments, I work really hard for them. When you get rewarded like this, it’s a very special moment. I think it’s the second oldest trophy on mainland Europe. So I’ve got the French Open and this one now, I’m so proud of that. My journey is just beginning, it feels like.
“My big goal is to get in the Ryder Cup once. I’ve never played the Ryder Cup or the Masters. These are the two big goals for me and whatever happens on the way there, I’ll take it and keep working even harder. I’m just loving it. I love my life at the moment. It’s great.”
Germany’s Jannik de Bruyn shot a 69 for a share of third place at 9-under alongside American Sean Crocker who shot a 68.
France’s Antoine Rozner and India’s Shubhankar Sharma who shared the overnight lead both shot 73s to finish in a five-way tie for fifth place at 8-under while their final co-leader Sebastian Friedrichsen of Denmark made no birdies, four bogeys and a triple bogey at the par-3 6th to close with a 78 for a share of 42nd place at 3-under.
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