A STAR was born when local hero Shane Lowry became just the third amateur to win on the European Tour – at The 3 Irish Open on the third extra hole no less.

But what agonies the 22- year-old had to go through at County Louth before he got the better of England’s Robert Rock in their sudden death play-off.

Son of a famous Gaelic footballer, Lowry was poised for glory when he pitched to within four feet of the final flag.

But, having raised his cap to the ecstatic crowd as he walked onto the green, he was covering his face in it when he pulled the putt wide.

‘‘I didn’t think I would have a better chance than that,’’ he said afterwards. But he did and in pouring rain he took it to change his life forever.

Rock missed a nine-footer at the first play-off hole and after the next was shared in birdies Lowry’s tap-in putt for a par five next time round – their fourth playing of the long 18th in the day – gave him the trophy as Rock had pitched over the green and by failing to get up and down ran up a six.

Lowry, who could not accept the first prize of nearly £440,000, is set to decide today whether to turn professional.

The likelihood is that he will and be at Wentworth for this week’s BMW PGA Championship.

But what state he will be in to play remains to be seen.

‘‘I can’t believe it – this is going to take a long time to sink in,’’ said the Walker Cup squad member, who was playing his first-ever first European Tour event and on Friday shot a 62 which equalled the lowest round ever by an amateur on the circuit.

That put him in front and with a round to go he shared top spot with Rock. But when he fell two behind on the 11th it looked as if he might slip quietly away.

Not so. Rock bogeyed the next and then Lowry, with fist pumps each time, birdied the 14th and 16th to go ahead.

However, the dramatic finale was set up when Rock, seeking his first win after two runners-up finishes this season, rolled in a 20-footer for birdie at the short 17th to draw level.

With Lowry’s horror miss on the last they tied on the 17 under par total of 271, but it was to prove his day after all.