Golf:Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed today clung on to claim his first European Tour title at the 245th attempt in the Italian Open after almost letting slip a six-shot lead.
Andersson Hed took a commanding advantage into the final round in Turin after a brilliant nine-under-par 63 yesterday, but found himself pegged back by England’s David Horsey.
Horsey moved into a share of the lead with his sixth birdie of the day on the 13th, but promptly dropped a shot at the next and also bogeyed the 18th after a 10-minute wait on the tee.
That gave Andersson Hed some much-needed breathing room and he was able to par the last two holes to complete a round of 73 for and winning total of 16 under par.
Horsey, Challenge Tour winner in 2008, was second on 14 under par with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson and England’s Chris Wood sharing third two shots further back.
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, coincidentally the last person to benefit when a six-shot lead had been squandered going into the final round, was expected to be Andersson Hed’s main challenger but slumped to a closing 76.
Ireland’s Gareth Maybin finished well down the field on one under after a closing round of 71.