Derek Ernst beats David Lynn in Quail Hollow play-off

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Derek Ernst

England's David Lynn lost to American PGA Tour rookie Derek Ernst in a play-off at the Wells Fargo Championship in Quail Hollow, North Carolina.

Lynn found the bunker with his approach on the 18th - the first play-off hole - and 22-year-old Ernst took advantage.

The pair had finished a rainy fourth round tied on eight under par.

Overnight leader Phil Mickelson had been leading on nine under after 15 holes but bogeyed the 16th and 17th to slip out of contention.

Ernst was ranked outside the top 1,200 at the start of the week and only came into the field as the fourth reserve.

"This feeling is unbelievable right now," said the Californian, who was playing only his ninth event on the US PGA Tour.

The 18th certainly proved to be of Ernst's liking on Sunday - his four-foot birdie putt at the end of regulation play there was one of only four made during the fourth round.

"Winning was not on my mind," he said of his mindset approaching the 18th for the first time on Sunday. "I hit a six-iron and choked up a little bit and hit a draw in there.

"I was trying to hit it as close as I possibly could, yeah. I knew Dave (Lynn) was at eight (under), so I didn't know what Phil (Mickelson) was or where he was at.

"So I was just trying to get tied with David at eight."

Mickelson eventually finished with a round of 73 to take third place on 281.

England's Lee Westwood and Sweden's Robert Karlsson both posted final round scores of 72 to share fourth on 282.

Rory McIlroy, who was in contention at the turn, faded in the back nine with a double bogey at the par four 12th starting a decline which saw him finish one over for the round and four shots behind Ernst and Lynn.

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