Byrne falls away as Bjerregaard triumphs

James Byrne dropped out of the top ten during the final round of the European Amateur championship in Finland yesterday.

The Banchory youngster, runner-up in June's Amateur championship at Muirfield, spilled three shots on his last three holes in a one-under 71 and had to settle for 11th with a seven-under 281.

Byrne, four-under for his round until that late slip, finished eight shots behind Danish winner Lucas Bjerregaard, who closed with a 70 for 273 and a one stroke victory over Andrea Pavan of Italy and new English champion Tommy Fleetwood. Bjerregaard's win secured him a place in next year's Open championship at Royal St George's.

Motherwell's Ross Kellett, runner-up in last season's European event, finished down in a share of 28th on 286 after a 71 while Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol trudged in with a 75 for 293.

Bjerregaard is only the second Dane to win the title, after Morten Backhausen, who beat Lee Westwood in a play-off in 1993.

"My biggest title by far. Tommy did not make that many mistakes, he was tough, so I had to play well to beat him," said Bjerregaard who intends to play college golf at Florida University.