Midland golfer Robert Rock missed out on the first win of his career after losing in Sunday's Irish Open play-off to amateur Shane Lowry at Baltray.

But there was considerable compensation in the form of the biggest pay day of The Belfry-based golfer's career.

With Lowry retaining his amateur status, his cheque for 500,000 Euros (just under £500,000) was passed on.

And that cushioned the blow of a third second-place finish this season for 32-year-old Rugeley-born Rock.

"It's a little bit of a consolation," smiled Rock, "so we've both got something out of it.

"It's absolutely unbelievable what he's done. I'm happy for him."

His play-off defeat to Lowry came at the third extra hole, all of which took place at the 18th.

I made a little mistake. I was trying to chip in Rob Rock

And Rock, who lives in Armitage, Staffordshire and is attached to The Belfry, admitted in retrospect that he should have tried to lay up for his par rather than try to hole his chip to win it.

"I made a little mistake," he said. "I was trying to chip in.

"You want to try and win, rather than just get it up and down.

"But I hit it too firm, it left me a bit of work and I didn't do a great job with the putt."

Rock's runners-up spot was his third in 11 events this season - and the second in as many weeks after finishing tied for second with John Daly at last week's Italian Open.

Having only just scraped in last October to win back his European Tour card in 111th place on the Order of Merit, his latest fine week's work has shot him up to seventh in this year's Race to Dubai.

And, even at this early stage of the season, that offers the considerable, pressure-easing luxury of guaranteeing his card for 2010.

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