Fernandez-Castano wins in Shanghai
IN: News | Asian | BMW Asian Open (2006) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 23 Apr 2006
In what was a simply amazing final round at the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai today, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano edged out Henrik Stenson in a playoff that ended after a birdie at the first extra hole by the 25-year-old Spaniard.
Fernandez-Castano has been a professional for less than two years but he has already given ample evidence that he could well follow in the footsteps of some of his more established countrymen. He gained his card with ease at the 2004 European Tour School and in his first season in 2005 was named the Rookie of the Year after winning the KLM Open in the Netherlands.
Returning to the European Tour for just his first event in two months when he teed it up at last week's Volvo China Open, Fernandez-Castano finished second behind Jeev Milkha Singh after a last hole bogey cost him any chance of applying pressure to the Indian, who was playing behind him on the course but he would finish things off better today.
In one of the more intriguing last days on the European Tour this year, six or seven players held the lead at various stages late in the tournament but Fernandez-Castano's two late birdies saw him move ahead of Stenson, who was then forced to birdie the last to draw level.
Colin Montgomerie and Jose-Filipe Lima finished in third place with Lima actually taking the lead outright after an eagle at the 13th before a bogey at the 14th would see him fall one short.
Stenson appeared to have the tournament for his taking when he birdied three holes in succession from the 6th but a triple bogey at the 9th saw him open the door up for many others.
One of those was New Zealander Mahal Pearce who, when he birdied the 12th, had moved into the lead on his own at seven under par. He was unable to sustain that run in what no doubt would have been an anxious period for him. This offered the chance to gain access to the European Tour after several years trying to gain his card by more conventional means. Two consecutive bogeys followed but he would still finish in fifth place and with it his biggest cheque in the game ahead of his 6th placing in last year's Singapore Open.
Simon Dyson and Paul Casey shared fifth alongside Pearce with Casey having a share of the lead at one stage in the final round.
Other Australians to make the cut included Peter O'Malley who, when he reached the turn in two under, appeared likely to challenge for his first European Tour title in nearly five years but eventually finished 8th for the second week in a row. Terry Pilkadaris and David Bransdon both finished with strong last rounds to share 8th with O'Malley. Brett Rumford also rallied on day four to finish 13th, Jarrod Lyle disappointed when he faded over the weekend and eventually finished 34th along with Marcus Fraser while Adam Groom was 70th.
The European Tour now heads to Spain for the Andalucia Spanish Open while the Asian Tour heads to Seoul for the Caltex Maekyung Open.
