Lawrie first Irish golfer to claim Rookie of the Year title

PETER LAWRIE has become the first Irish golfer to be named as the European Tour’s Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

The 29-year-old Dubliner, selected by a joint panel from the tour, the R and A and the Association of Golf Writers, finished 56th on the Order of Merit and just missed out on a first victory when he lost a play-off to Kenneth Ferrie for the Spanish Open.

Irish amateur champion in 1996, Lawrie turned professional the following year, but after four vain attempts to come through the qualifying school he graduated last season from the Challenge Tour, winning the final event to finish fourth on their money list.