Gronberg completes Italian job

Mathias Gronberg claimed his fourth European Tour title today three years after his last, the Swede coming from three strokes…

Mathias Gronberg claimed his fourth European Tour title today three years after his last, the Swede coming from three strokes behind to win the Italian Open.

Gronberg, 33, closed with a seven-under-par 65, only a stroke off the Gardagolf course record, for an aggregate of 17-under-par 271, two strokes better than overnight leader Ricardo Gonzalez, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Manuel Lara.

Montgomerie, the tournament favourite, and SpaniardLara also carded final-round 65s, while Argentine Gonzalez shotan erratic 70.

As well as the €183,330 first prize, Gronberg received hisweight in Grana Padona (parmesan) cheese, one of the moreunusual bonuses on the European Tour.

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Gonzalez extended his overnight one-shot advantage with anearly eagle, but, as Gronberg powered through the field withfour birdies before the turn and an eagle at the 12th, theArgentine lost ground after double-bogeying the seventh.

Lara set the target but was left to rue a bogey on the last,while Montgomerie, who had made a blazing start with a birdie atthe second and a 20-foot eagle putt at the third, had lefthimself too much to do after mistakes the previous day.

Philip Walton (70) was best placed of the Irish, tied 26th on six-under, while Damien McGrane (72) finished one under with Gary Murphy (77) on one over.