Thriston Lawrence claimed his second DP World Tour title at the European Masters after edging out Matt Wallace in a play-off at Crans-sur-Sierre.

The 25-year-old climbed into the world's top 100 for the first time as he held his nerve to earn a maiden European Tour success over four rounds.

Lawrence, who triumphed at the 36-hole Joburg Open last November, also became the first South African winner of the title since Ernie Els in 2003.

Following a stunning 67 on Saturday, the world number 129 held a three-shot lead over Wallace heading into the final round of his first European Masters appearance.

He appeared to pick up from where he left off with a magnificent 32-foot birdie on the third hole. However, a double-bogey on the fifth enabled Wallace to close the gap.

The Englishman carded an impressive 66 as he sought a first European Tour victory in nearly four years, while Lawrence's bogey on the 16th culminated in the sixth play-off in 10 editions of this event.

As both players returned to the 18th, Wallace was aiming to maintain his perfect play-off record, having prevailed at the Hero Indian Open and Made in Denmark in 2018.

But there was to be no joy for the 32-year-old this time around. Indeed, a sloppy approach culminated in him pulling a tricky five-foot par putt to tie, handing Lawrence the title.

"It's a privilege to be able to take this victory," the South African said. "There's so much history going around this event and all the past champions, so I can't wait to get my hands on this trophy.

"I was actually quite fine [with going to a play-off]. It's a tricky golf course; you can lose a few shots, especially around [holes] 14 and 15. On the par-fives, you can make a silly mistake and another guy can make birdies.

"I'm just happy with my patience around this weekend; I'm just so pleased to be able to win this.

"Growing up, you always want to be in the top 100 in the world, and to achieve it is quite emotional."

Rasmus Hojgaard triumphed at the European Masters after Ryder Cup hopeful Bernd Wiesberger fluffed his lines on the 72nd hole.

Wiesberger's double-bogey six at the last saw him miss out on a ninth European Tour title by one stroke as Hojgaard took the trophy on 13 under.

Austrian Wiesberger just needed a par at the last to see off the threat of clubhouse leader Hojgaard at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland, with the Dane having birdied his final hole.

But Wiesberger, chasing a win that would have moved him into the automatic qualifying spots for this year's Ryder Cup, drove a nervy tee shot into the bunker and then found water with his next stroke.

Needing an up-and-down to force a play-off, Wiesberger was unable to salvage it and it was Hojgaard who was left to celebrate a third European Tour success.

Henrik Stenson, himself eyeing a wildcard in Padraig Harrington's European team, finished third, only two shots off the summit, following a closing 63.

Sean Crocker stormed into contention ahead of the final day at the European Masters thanks to a brilliant six-under-par 64 on Saturday, giving him a share of the lead with Renato Paratore.

Overnight leaders Dean Burmester and Andy Sullivan slipped as both went over 70 for the first time this week, with the tricky weather at Crans-sur-Sierre undoubtedly playing a part in their rounds of 73, and Crocker emphatically took advantage.

The American followed up 65 on Friday with a 64 in his third round, both scores a massive improvement after beginning the tournament with a 71.

For the second day in a row Crocker began with a bogey on the first hole, but he instantly got back to par and added another three birdies before the turn.

Two more and an eagle would have had him on course with an outright lead were it not for a bogey at 16, though he was endearingly carefree afterwards as he chases a maiden European Tour win.

"It was one of those rounds where I didn't really know what was going on, it just kind of went that way," Crocker said.

"I bogeyed the first hole, got a bit aggressive and banged driver down two, had about 64 yards to the pin and had an easy birdie there. Kind of got the momentum going from there.

"It was kind of tough out there, wind swirling, I just had to play my own golf and stay away from the leaderboard.

"I'll just play my game, whatever happens [on Sunday], it's just one of those things. If I win, I don't, it doesn't matter to me, I just want to go and play some golf."

Paratore will look to keep him on his toes after ending the day level with Crocker – though he certainly rode his luck on the 14th, somehow holing from a bunker for a birdie after previously getting himself into tree trouble off from the tee.

That birdie ultimately ensured the Italian was one under for the day, and while he recognised it was not his best day on the course, he had fun nonetheless.

"Today I enjoyed it a lot, I made a lot of good saves and the crowd was also amazing," Paratore said.

"I didn't play my best golf today, but in these tough conditions I managed to shoot one under, which for today was a really good score, normally maybe not that good."

Dean Burmester produced five birdies to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the European Masters.

The South African began Friday four shots behind first-round leader James Morrison, who hit a course record of 60 on day one in Crans-sur-Sierre.

But the two-time European Tour winner – including success at the Tenerife Open earlier this year – carded an impressive unblemished 65 to move himself to the summit of the leaderboard at 11-under. 

"I've played well both days. Today, I was just solid," he said. 

"I didn't get off to the best of starts, but holed a nice 10-footer on the first for par. You need those momentum ones; that just set the tone for the day.

"I putted beautifully again today. The greens were a little trickier this afternoon, I think it will be more of the same on the weekend. I'm very happy with today."

A shot behind and tied for second are Andy Sullivan and Belgium's Thomas Detry, who carded 65 for the second day running, while Renato Paratore is a stroke further back in fourth.

James Morrison holds a three-shot lead at the European Masters after breaking the course record with a sublime opening round.

Morrison shot a stunning 10-under 60 in a dream start at the picturesque Crans-sur Sierre on Thursday.

Starting from the 10th tee early in the day, the Englishman made an eagle three at the 14th and reached the turn in 31 after his only bogey of the day at 18.

He made birdies at the first, second and fifth holes before finishing with three successive gains, only missing out on a 59 when an approach shot landed three feet from the cup.

Morrison said: "I had a really good look on the last and thought, 'Just try to make this'. The minute your focus goes like that, you chip it stiff, make birdie and shoot 10 under par. I was trying to hole that shot on the last, but next time maybe."

Robin Sciot-Siegrist and Marcus Armitage hold a share of second place following seven-under rounds of 63.

Armitage was bogey-free in his first round, while Sciot-Siegrist dropped only the one shot at the first.

Andy Sullivan and Dean Burmester also made encouraging starts, sitting joint-fourth at six under.