Maiden Tour win for Spaniard
Little-known Spanish golfer Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano claimed his maiden European Tour title in only his 16th event as a professional when he won the KLM Open by two shots from England’s Gary Emerson.
The 24-year-old from Madrid, ranked 421st in the world, began the day a shot behind Emerson but after bogeying the first produced a stunning front nine of 31 to be three ahead by the turn and closed with a 67 to claim the €251,000 first prize.
The two key holes on the front nine were the second and the ninth where the Spaniard had two-shot swings go in his favour.
Fernandez-Castano sank a two-foot putt for birdie on the second to tie the lead with Emerson bogeying after overshooting the fairway with his iron tee shot.
The Spaniard then holed his 161-yard seven-iron approach at the next for an eagle two, although Emerson reduced the damage with a birdie.
Emerson dropped another shot at the fourth but gained it back with a foot-long putt at the short fifth.
Both birdied the eighth before Fernandez-Castano holed a 25-foot birdie effort to go 12 under while Emerson bogeyed to fall three behind.
The Spaniard went further ahead at the par-three 10th when both players missed the green but his partner failed to get up and down.
Emerson chipped in for eagle at the 485-yard 12th to go to 10 under and Fernando-Castano three-putted for par to reduce the lead to two.
Both bogeyed the 14th and Emerson dropped another shot at the 16th to hand a three-shot lead back to the Spaniard
It was too much to overhaul, even at the par-five last, where the Spaniard parred and Emerson birdied to finish second outright.
