Fabrizio Zanotti became the first Paraguayan to win on The European Tour after he survived a four-man play off at the BMW International Open in Germany.

The 31-year-old, who had to regain his Euro Tour card for this season, clinched the victory at the fifth sudden death play off hole after World No.2 Henrik Stenson drowned his tee shot in a water hazard. When Stenson followed that with a pitch into a bunker the Swede's fate was sealed and he conceded the win to Zanotti.

Fabrizio Zanotti is showered with champagne after his historic victory. PHOTO: Getty Images Fabrizio Zanotti is showered with champagne after his historic victory. PHOTO: Getty Images

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Gregory Havret, of France, began the four man play off, but both men dropped out, which left the door open for Zanotti to win, after he fired a closing 65 to book a spot in the play-off.

“I was patient. I tried to play shot by shot in the play off. I'm just very happy,” said Zanotti, who has previously finished runner-up three times on the European Tour.

“I knew today that if I made a good run I'd have a good chance. Today was my day.

“I've been working a lot and trying to build my confidence to get to this moment and finally I'm here.”

Henrik Stenson chips onto the 17th green on the fourth hole of the play-off with Zanotti. PHOTO: Getty Images Henrik Stenson chips onto the 17th green on the fourth hole of the play-off with Zanotti. PHOTO: Getty Images

The World No. 305 found himself in some high profile company, however, in the extra holes as Stenson and Cabrera-Bello – who had shared the lead with Danny Willett after the first two rounds – stormed into the play off.

Stenson grabbed a play-off spot by finishing with 30 on the back nine while Cabrera-Bello went birdie-eagle-birdie to snatch his place. The Swede narrowly missed the chance to seal victory on the final hole of regulation play when his birdie putt rolled agonisingly just short, before he again missing from the same range at the start of the play off.

Havret was the first casualty of the four man decider at the second extra hole when his rivals all made birdies and the quality of the play off stepped up a notch further when they next moved to the 17th.

All three hit the green from their drives en route to birdies, but when they returned to the 18th – and the heavens opened to make conditions difficult – Cabrera-Bello crashed out when his approach bounced into the water.

Stenson then followed suit when he again tried to reach the 17th green off the tee to leave Zanotti in pole position.

The Paraguayan crucially stayed dry from his following tee shot to leave Stenson needing to produce something from his bag of tricks. Stenson was unable to do so, however, as his pitch was over hit into the bunker and when he failed to chip in from the sand Stenson conceded.

Zanotti was quickly showered in champagne to celebrate a success that might have appeared a long way off after he finished 140th in the Race to Dubai last year to surrender his card.

His regained it with a second place finish in the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort and now, at the 181st attempt, he has a first win on The European Tour.

Overnight leader Pablo Larrazábal was unable to get his final round up and running as he went around in level par to finish on 17 under for the week and two shots off the leaders.

Likewise, Richard Green steamed up the leaderboard in the third round with a 10 under 62, which included an eight under back nine of 28. He turned for home with a birdie at the 10th and then went on an amazing six-hole tear starting from the 12th hole of birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie and birdie.

Richard Green fired a 10 under 62 in the third round to put himself in contention. PHOTO: Getty Images Richard Green fired a 10 under 62 in the third round to put himself in contention. PHOTO: Getty Images

Playing in the ultimate group for the final round, the Victorian started slowly with a bogey at the 2nd hole, which he offset with three birdies for a round of 70 and a share of 12th place.

South Australia’s Wade Ormsby had two weekend rounds of 69 to finish tied for 33rd.

LEADERBOARD

*1. Fabrizio Zanotti (Para)   72-67-65-65–269   €333,330

T2. Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Esp)   64-68-70-67–269   149,140

T2. Gregory Havret (Fra)   71-65-67-66-269    149,140

T2. Henrik Stenson (Swe)   68-68-66-67–269   149,140

T5. Jamie Donaldson (Wal)   71-67-65-67–270   71,600

* Won at fourth play-off hole

ALSO:

T12. Richard Green (Vic)   72-68-62-70–272   €27,960

T33. Wade Ormsby (SA)   71-67-69-69–276   13,617

* For the full leaderboard, click here