He beat Marco Fu 4-2 in the final to claim the first professional title of his 22-year snooker career.
Liverpool cueman Lawler, who had to go to qualifying school after finishing last season ranked 73 in the world, beat Stuart Bingham by the odd frame in round six before disposing of Stephen Lee - again 4-3 - in the last eight then whitewashing Dominic Dale 4-0 in the semis.
Fu also enjoyed a last-four whitewash against 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy.
Results:
Final
Marco Fu 2-4 Rod Lawler
Semi-finals
Marco Fu 4-0 Shaun Murphy
Rod Lawler 4-0 Dominic Dale
Quarter-finals
Marco Fu 4-2 Ali Carter
Shaun Murphy 4-1 Robert Milkins
Stephen Lee 3-4 Rod Lawler
Fergal O'Brien 0-4 Dominic Dale
Round six
Marco Fu 4-0 Ricky Walden
Ali Carter 4-2 Chen Zhe
Shaun Murphy 4-3 Jamie Cope
Robert Milkins 4-1 Judd Trump
Martin Gould 3-4 Stephen Lee
Rod Lawler 4-3 Stuart Bingham
Ken Doherty 3-4 Fergal O'Brien
Ben Woollaston 2-4 Dominic Dale
