Harrington fades as Casey claims victory

England's Paul Casey condemned Padraig Harrington to the 19th runners-up finish of his career today by winning the last-ever …

England's Paul Casey condemned Padraig Harrington to the 19th runners-up finish of his career today by winning the last-ever Benson and Hedges International Open.

The 25-year-old from Surrey denied Harrington a glorious return to The Belfry, scene of last September's Ryder Cup victory, with a four-stroke triumph.

Casey, joint leader with Harrington and New Zealander Stephen Scahill overnight, captured the stg£183,330 first prize thanks to a closing 71 in the blustery conditions for an 11 under par total of 277.

Following as it does his triumph in the ANZ Championship in Sydney in February the former English amateur champion - he won that twice - now stands second on the European Order of Merit behind Ernie Els.

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And if he can stay there for two more weeks a US Open debut next month will be his.

Harrington still took away stg£122,220.

He earned stg£381,333 for finishing second at the Players' Championship in Florida in March and has made an estimated stg£2million from all his near-misses in his career.

But he dearly wanted to win this one - not only because it was the final B&H event before a government ban on tobacco sponsorship comes into force, and not only because it would give him almost as many good memories of The Belfry as Sam Torrance.

There was also the matter of three years ago. He led by five then with a round to go, but was disqualified without hitting another shot after the chance discovery that he had forgotten to sign his first round scorecard.

Scahill finished joint third with Dutchman Rolf Muntz and Scot Paul Lawrie, who holed-in-one with a seven-iron at the seventh. Swede Richard Johnson broke the course record earlier with a 64.