Fasth defeats Tunnicliff in playoff

Sweden's Niclas Fasth beat Briton Miles Tunnicliff in a sudden-death playoff to win the New Zealand Open at the Gulf Harbour Resort course near Auckland on Sunday.

Fasth secured his second European Tour victory with a four-metre birdie putt on the second extra hole while Tunnicliff settled for par after hitting a spectator on the first playoff hole.

The two players finished regulation holes tied on 22-under-par 266 after Tunnicliff sunk a six-metre birdie putt at the 18th for a final round of 66, forcing the playoff.

Fasth blitzed his way to a nine-under 63 in the final round, one short of the course record set by Britain's Steve Webster earlier in the day, after seven birdies and an eagle.

The 32-year-old Swede also shot a 63 in the second round but a 75 on Saturday meant he started the final day four shots off the pace in fourth place.

"I produced a really strong performance to come from behind," he told a news conference.

Simon Nash and fellow Australian Richard Green tied for third on 18-under 270, one stroke ahead of Swede Robert Karlsson and Australia's Peter O'Malley.

Overnight leader, Britain's Oliver Wilson, struggled to a two-over 74 to finish among a group of six players tied for seventh on 15-under.

Webster reeled off 10 birdies, including nine between the second and 12th holes, in his 10-under-par 62 and eventually finished equal 41st after an 80 the previous day.

Webster bettered the previous course record of 63 set by American Scott Verplank and Swede Patrik Sjoland at the 1998 World Cup and equalled on Friday by Fasth, Tunnicliff and Green.

"It's a crazy game," he said. "If you don't try you think you're not giving yourself a chance and if you try too hard that doesn't work out."

Tunnicliff, 36, started the final day in second place but did not make his first birdie until the sixth hole. He holed out from the bunker for an eagle-two at the 12th to join Fasth at 21-under before birdying the last to force the shootout.

The Englishman's concentration was momentarily broken when he struck a spectator with a wayward approach shot to the first playoff green.

The 12-year-old-girl was knocked down by the impact and was taken away for medical treatment but was conscious when Tunnicliff apologised to her.

"It wasn't nice seeing her put on a stretcher but they told me she was okay," Tunnicliff said.

He halved the hole after making his up and down but a superb approach from Fasth on the second extra hole set up a winning birdie for the Swede.

It was the first time the New Zealand Open was co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours.

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