Sunday, October 25, 2009

Jonzon birdies final hole to clinch Castello Masters title

(CNN) -- Michael Jonzon held his nerve to secure his European Tour card for next year and boost his chances of playing in the Race To Dubai season finale with a one-shot win at the Castello Masters in Spain.

The 37-year-old Swede claimed his first title since the 1997 Portuguese Open, having been 158th on the money list and battling to make it into the top 115 players who qualify.

He had a comfortable lead until he double-bogeyed the 15th hole and dropped another shot at 17, while Martin Kaymer -- his playing partner alongside defending champion Sergio Garcia -- picked up three birdies to catch him on 19 under.

With Jonzon's compatriot Christian Nilsson in the clubhouse on the same score, a playoff seemed on the cards.

However, Jonzon holed an 18-foot birdie putt and Kaymer -- who had limped around the course all week on his return since breaking toes in a go-kart crash in August -- missed his attempt from half that distance.

"It's been desperate for me and I am kind of speechless at the moment. It's unbelievable," Jonzon, who closed with a four-under-par 67, told reporters.

"It's going to take time to let this sink in, I guess. I'm just so thrilled to have a playing status for next year and I'm so proud of myself the way I handled these days."

Jonzon had lost his overnight one-shot lead as Garcia opened with back-to-back birdies, but fired an eagle and three birdies of his own to turn in 31.

Kaymer also closed with 67, but paid the price for a double-bogey at the par-five 13th hole, where Nilsson also dropped a shot before another at 16 to card his second successive 65.

Garcia finished fourth on 17 under as he finished with his fifth birdie in a 69, which was marred by a double-bogey at the par-three 12th hole and another dropped shot at the third.


source: CNN.com

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