Golf:Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano won his sixth European Tour title at the Italian Open today in good scoring conditions which helped the three Ryder Cup players in the field boost their confidence.
Fernandez-Castano produced his lowest round of the tournament at Royal Park in Turin with an eight-under-par 64, his first bogey-free 18 holes of the week, to edge South African Garth Mulroy (67) by two shots on 24 under.
The Ryder Cup trio of Martin Kaymer (67), rookie Nicolas Colsaerts (67) and Francesco Molinari (65) were in similarly good form as they played their final competitive rounds before the September 28th-30th matchplay event against the United States.
Kaymer, the 2010 US PGA Championship winner, ended up 18 under overall for a share of fifth place, a timely return to form for the German whose best previous finish all season of seventh had come in April.
It was also the former world number one's highest placing since his HSBC Champions victory last November, a loss of form which has seen his ranking drop to 32.
Belgium's Colsaerts matched Kaymer's efforts to register his 10th top-10 finish in an outstanding season so far, while Italian Molinari recovered from his four-over-par third round with an eight-birdie 65 to delight the final-day crowds.
The Irish challenge finished well with Shane Lowry best of the lot having moved to 15 under with a tree-under-par 69. Michael Hoey's 65 saw him finish on 13 under, one ahead of Damien McGrane (66) and two in front of Gareth Maybin (69). Peter Lawrie also carded a 69 to finish nine under.
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