Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano wins maiden tour title

Rookie Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano emulated his hero Severiano Ballesteros by securing his maiden victory in the Dutch Open on Sunday.

Ballesteros's first European Tour title came in the Netherlands in 1976, and his 24-year-old compatriot shot a closing three-under-par 67 to finish two shots ahead of Britain's Gary Emerson.

While it took Ballesteros 27 events to claim his first title in his second year on tour, Fernandez-Castano needed only 16 tournaments to taste victory.

He achieved the feat in typical Ballesteros style, holing out for an eagle-two on the third and running in several huge putts.

"Just a year ago I was not sure about turning professional," Fernandez-Castano said.

"I was studying for my degree in business studies and playing amateur golf and I was not sure my game was good enough but at the end of last year I decided to give it a go.

"This win has come quickly, quicker than I thought.

"Today I felt the pressure because there is a big difference to the amateur game but I stayed focus and I had some good up-and-downs and sank a lot of big putts."

Emerson began the final round a stroke ahead but a series of missed fairways and greens in a round of 70 put paid to the 41-year-old Briton's chances of a second title after last year's Russian Open success.

Fernandez-Castano went past his playing partner as early as the third by holing out on the full with his seven-iron second shot from 161 yards.

The young Spaniard's name looked to be written on the trophy as he reached the turn three strokes ahead of Emerson after collecting birdies on the eighth and ninth greens with putts of 40 and 25 feet.

After moving four shots ahead, Fernandez-Castano's lead was halved when Emerson chipped in for eagle on the long 12th, but a bogey by the erratic Briton on the 16th ended his hopes.

Fernandez-Castano's $305,000 victory was the 131st by a Spaniard on the European Tour and he became the seventh first-time winner of the season.

The victory came only nine months after he turned professional and seven months since he won his card at tour school qualifying.

Emerson's consolation was to secure his card for next year, while fellow Briton Paul Broadhurst, who had contended strongly all week, finished a further stroke back after a 70.

Maarten Lafeber, Dutch Open champion in 2003, closed with a 68 to share fourth place on seven under with Austrian Markus Brier (69).

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