Australia's Scott Hend has been denied a third European Tour victory after losing on a third extra hole to England's Matt Fitzpatrick at the European Masters.
Hend led by three shots going into the final round and had an eight-foot putt to win on the second play-off hole at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club in Switzerland.
But he missed, and a wayward shot from a bunker on the third hole to bogey the hole and gave Fitzpatrick the chance to close out the win with a three-foot putt at the picturesque Swiss Alps course.
Fitzpatrick, a Ryder Cup debutant last year, acknowledged thinking that Hend would seize that chance after his own four metre birdie putt slid by the hole.
"It's never nice to see," Fitzpatrick said of Hend's miss, "but we kept our nerve and we played really smart all week."
Hend pocketed $A450,000 for his troubles, but it was the second time in as many years he has been denied the title in a play-off.
Both players carded 14-under totals of 266 having had early starts on Sunday to complete their delayed third rounds.
On Saturday, play was suspended because of fog, while fading light brought the leading groups in early.
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton (66) and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti (68) finished three back on 11 under in a tie for third place.
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