Molinari delights home fans with Italian win

Francesco Molinari today became the first home winner of the Italian Open for 26 years at Castello di Tolcinasco in Milan.

Molinari carded a brilliant final round 65 for a 23 under par total of 265, four shots clear of Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin and Denmark's Anders Hansen.

Molinari, who claimed the first prize of £161,000, was engulfed by family and friends and drenched in champagne after he holed a seven foot birdie putt on the 18th green.

The 23-year-old, whose brother Edoardo won the US Amateur title last year, was not even born when Italy last enjoyed a home victory in their national open, Massimo Mannelli winning by five shots in Rome.

He began the day tied for the lead with England's Benn Barham, but was never headed from the moment he eagled the par-five first.

Birdies at the sixth and ninth took him to the turn in 32 and kept him just in front of the chasing pack led by Sandelin and Hansen.

Sandelin drew level by chipping to within inches of the hole for a birdie on the 15th, but then three-putted the next for a bogey after charging his birdie attempt 10ft past.

Molinari, who finished 86th on the money list in his rookie season last year, then stretched his advantage with a birdie on the 13th and effectively sealed victory with another from three feet on the par-five 15th.

Sandelin could also celebrate securing his card for next season with his third top 10 finish of the season.

The extrovert Swede won five times on the European Tour between 1995 and 2002, and played in the Ryder Cup at Brookline in 1999, but lost his card last season and had to regain it at the qualifying school in November.