Donaldson ends European drought

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Welshman Jamie Donaldson won the first European Tour title of his career with a four-shot victory at the Irish Open on Sunday.

Donaldson, 36, took a one-shot lead into the final round at Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim and having failed to win in 254 attempts on the European Tour, he finally seized his chance in Northern Ireland, with a six-under-par 66 taking him to 18-under overall.

It was enough to finish four strokes clear at the top of the leaderboard, ahead of a three-way tie for second between Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti and Englishman Anthony Wall.

Donaldson made a strong start to the deciding 18 holes, sinking three consecutive birdies between two and four to reach the turn three under for the round.

He made his first bogey at 11 after a sequence of six consecutive pars, but recovered emphatically with birdies at 12, 14 and 15.

A minor wobble took place with a bogey five at 16, but he closed it out in style with successive birdies on the final two holes.

Wall had been Donaldson's closest challenger at the beginning of the round, but he could only manage a three-under 69 to join Cabrera-Bello and Zanotti at 14 under.

Wall's countryman Mark Foster matched his compatriot's last-day effort of 69 to finish tied fifth alongside Swede Mikael Lundberg.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion, had held a share of third with Foster after the third round on Saturday.

But he turned in a disappointing two-under 70 to end the tournament tied seventh at 12 under, alongside Scottish duo David Drysdale and Craig Lee.

World No.2 Rory McIlroy produced his best round of the competition, with a five-under 67 good enough for a share of 10th, alongside 2011 winner Simon Dyson of England.

McIlroy's fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell also saved his best for the last day, as a six-under 66 saw him climb 14 places up the standings and into tied 16th.

Australian Matthew Zions finished in a share of 18th spot on nine-under.

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