Fasth celebrates play-off victory

Spanish Open: Sweden's Niclas Fasth took the Spanish Open title yesterday after a sudden-death play-off with England's John Bickerton.

Fasth holed a five-foot birdie putt at the fourth extra hole after both players had finished on 18-under-par 270, a stroke ahead of the field.

While Bickerton equalled the San Roque New course record with a closing 63, Fasth bogeyed the final two holes for a 69 which forced him into a play-off.

Despite his stumbling finish, the Swede was able to celebrate his 34th birthday from the previous day by collecting a 275,000 first prize for his fourth European Tour title, three of them having come in play-offs.

Both players parred the 18th three times in the play-off and the title was decided at the ninth.

Bickerton missed the green and holed a 12ft par putt, but then Fasth, who had struck a nine-iron 145 yards to just five feet got the job done.

Fasth said: "I knew what I had to do at the last couple of holes and I didn't do it, so I am not happy about that. But you just have to bounce back. A play-off can be very tiring because it's been a long day but I didn't give up."

The Swede had looked certain to win in proper time after Denmark's Thomas Bjorn faded.

Bjorn had birdied five of the first six holes to establish a three-stroke lead but a four-putt double-bogey on the eighth heralded the Dane's downfall and when he missed a four-footer to bogey the last he had to be content with a share of third place.

Bickerton's flawless card with nine birdies, including two at the last three holes, set the target as he equalled Robert Karlsson's course record of the second round. The 36-year-old earned more than twice the amount he won for his maiden victory last year at the Canaries Open and prize money of 183,330 ensures him a card for next year.

Stephen Browne finished best of the Irish on 11-under-par 277 after a final round of 69 which earned him a cheque for 18,645. Peter Lawrie shot a final round of 72 for 280 with David Higgins two shots back on 282 after a 72.

Overnight leader David Griffiths, ahead by two, slipped to a disappointing 72 and a share of third place.

Pre-Tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie had to settle for 28th place, nine strokes away from the play-off, after a closing 71.

Fasth's victory moved him up to 12th on the Ryder Cup table, with the top 10 qualifying automatically. He is 11th on Europe's money-list.

WOMEN'S TOUR: Finland's Riikka Hakkarainen came from a shot behind to clinch her maiden European Women's Tour victory and a first prize of €37,500 in the Tenerife Open at Abama Golf in the Canary Islands.

The 28-year old from Espoo carded rounds of 73, 70, 74 and 71 for a total of level par 288 and won by a two-shot margin. Spanish rookie Tania Elosegui Mayor, playing in only her first event on the Ladies European Tour, fired rounds of 71, 72, 76, 71 to finish in outright second position at two over par 290.

The five players tied for third position at three over par were Australian Shani Waugh, who had a final round 71, Ireland's Rebecca Coakley, who had a 71, England's Rebecca Hudson, who shot 68, England's Kirsty Taylor, the second and third round leader who had a 77; and Virginie Auffret from France who received a Tag Hauer watch for the lowest 18 hole score of the week after a final round of five under par 67.

CHALLENGE TOUR: Anthony Snobeck of France kept his cool to secure the first victory of his European Challenge Tour career in a sudden-death play-off with Welshman Kyron Sullivan at the Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata.

After both players had finished the regulation 72 holes in 14 under par, Snobeck won with a par at the first play-off hole.

The Frenchman stormed through the field like an express train over the weekend with final scores of 65 and 66 to force Sullivan into the extra hole.

Colm Moriarty, the sole surviving Irishman, posted a final round of 74 for a total of four-under-par 284.