EUROPEAN TOUR ITALIAN OPEN:SWEDEN'S FREDRIK Andersson Hed held on to claim his first European Tour title at the 245th attempt after almost blowing a six-shot lead in the Italian Open.
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, winner of the Challenge Tour in 2008, was second on 14 under after a closing 68, 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 was squandered in the final round when he won the BMW Asian Open in 2004, was expected to be Andersson Hed’s main challenger but slumped to a closing 76.
The leader’s overnight lead was cut to four shots by Jimenez at the first hole. A bogey by Andersson Hed and a birdie by the Spaniard caused the two-shot swing and left the Swede facing a nerve-jangling final round.
However, Jimenez then lost his way with three bogeys in four holes as Horsey, seven shots behind overnight, came storming after Andersson Hed.
“The first nine holes I was very tense,” admitted Anderson Hed, who carded two bogeys and one birdie in an outward 37.
“I started to loosen up a bit from the 11th and played a bit better. It still wasn’t great, but it was a more solid last seven or eight holes.
“It means a lot to win, both for the rankings and self-confidence. It would have felt even better to have played well today but I was here to be first and now I am first.”
The 38-year-old from Halmstad regained his tour card after an incredible 14th trip to the qualifying school last November and said those experiences may have come in handy.
“They might, because it’s the same tension at the qualifying school as it is out here when you’re in contention,” added Andersson Hed, who claimed the winner’s cheque for €186,856 and a one-year tour exemption.
Horsey refused to blame the lengthy wait on the 18th tee for the bogey six which effectively ended his chances, but was disappointed not to have kept the pressure up after claiming a share of the lead.
“To bogey two of the last five holes is disappointing,” said the 25-year-old from Stockport, who was also second in Malaysia last year. “I got off to a flying start and I didn’t look at a leaderboard until around the 13th when I saw that it was very close. I knew the last five holes were pretty tough and thought if I could par in it might have been enough.
“The wait on the 18th tee maybe threw me off rhythm a little bit but I can’t blame that. My drive caught a tree and went straight right and I didn’t get it back onto the fairway from there.
“I really thought I was in with a good shout and it’s disappointing, but I can take a lot of positives from this week.”
Teenage prodigy Matteo Manassero, making his first professional start on home soil after a superb amateur career, carded a closing 71 to finish in a tie for 29th.
The 17-year-old Italian was only four off the lead at halfway and slightly disappointed with his weekend’s efforts, but still showed more than enough to prove finishing 13th in the Open last year and 36th in the Masters last month was certainly no fluke.
Ireland’s Gareth Maybin completed his final round in a one under par 71. Maybin dropped shots on the ninth and 14th. They were the only blemishes while his total of three birdies on the final day left him at one under overall as he finished with an aggregate 286 leaving him in 42nd place in the clubhouse.
