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| April 24, 2006 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1427 |
Fernandez annexes Asian Open title on first playoff
SHANGHAI, April 23: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano announced himself as the next big Spanish talent by birdying the 18th hole to win a playoff against Sweden's Henrik Stenson and claim the Asian Open title on Sunday.
A sublime approach shot to within a foot of the pin laid the foundation for the 25-year-old's victory in the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event after he and his playing partner had finished tied on seven-under-par after 72 regulation holes.
The 2005 European Tour rookie of the year watched as Stenson missed a birdie putt then held his nerve to claim a second tour title after his Dutch Open triumph last year.
A beautiful chip in from 30 yards at the 16th combined with a bogey for Stenson saw Fernandez top the leaderboard for the first time on a day when the lead changed hands several times.
Stenson, who had led after each of the first three rounds, was not finished yet though and birdied the 18th to claw his rival back and send the tournament into a sudden-death playoff.
Eight-time European order of merit winner Colin Montgomerie shared third place with Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima on six-under after a final round 68, while New Zealand's Mahal Pearce and Britons Simon Dyson and Paul Casey were a further shot back.
Leading final round scores:
281 -- Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 71, 71, 69, 70; Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 67, 72, 71, 71 (Fernandez-Castano wins playoff at the first extra hole).
282 -- Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 69, 74, 71, 68; Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 71, 70, 73, 68.
283 -- Mahal Pearce (New Zealand) 72, 72, 68, 71; Simon Dyson (Britain) 72, 71, 72, 68; Paul Casey (Britain) 72, 71, 69, 71.
285 -- Peter O'Malley (Australia) 73, 70, 69, 73; David Bransdon (Australia) 72, 74, 73, 66; Terry Pilkadaris (Australia) 73, 73, 74, 65; Paul Lawrie (Britain) 70, 70, 73, 72.
286 -- Barry Lane (Britain) 74, 71, 72, 69.
287 -- Steven Jeppesen (Sweden) 73, 73, 72, 69; Brett Rumford (Australia) 75, 70, 75, 67; Graeme Storm (Britain) 74, 69, 72, 72; Christian Cevaer (France) 73, 72, 73, 69; Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 69, 72, 75, 71; Ignacio Garrido (Spain) 75, 71, 71, 70; Charlie Wi (South Korea) 69, 73, 74, 71; Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand) 73 70 73 71.
288 -- Simon Wakefield (Britain) 73, 70, 73, 72; Francois Delamontagne (France) 70, 73, 76, 69; Frankie Minoza (Philippines) 69, 72, 76, 71; Andrew Marshall (Britain) 71, 73, 73, 71; Jean Van de Velde (France) 68, 78, 71, 71.
APPLEBY KEEPS LEAD
HOUSTON: Australian Stuart Appleby fired a three-under-par 69 to move two shots clear after the third round of the Houston Open on Saturday as he stayed on course for his second PGA Tour win of the season.
Appleby, who began the day with a one stroke lead over Briton Greg Owen, mixed five birdies with a pair of bogeys, including one at the last, to reach 14-under for the tournament, giving him a two stroke cushion over Swede Mathias Gronberg.
Leading third round scores:
202 -- Stuart Appleby (Australia) 66, 67, 69.
204 -- Mathias Groenberg (Sweden) 68, 69, 67.
206 -- Bob Estes (US) 71, 69, 66; Jerry Smith (US) 67, 70, 69.
207 -- K.J. Choi (South Korea) 71, 69, 67; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 69, 67, 71.
208 -- Richard Johnson (Sweden) 72, 69, 67; Wes Short Jr (US) 72, 68, 68; Paul Goydos (US) 69, 71, 68; Jeff Gove (US) 69, 71, 68; J.L. Lewis (US) 71, 69, 68; Brett Wetterich (US) 70, 69, 69.—Reuters
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