Fasth accelerates to second Spanish victory of season

Niclas Fasth ended the home nation's dominance of the Mallorca Classic to complete his own Spanish double yesterday. The Swede, who won the Spanish Open at San Roque in April, carded a final round of 68 for a five-under-par total of 275 and three-shot victory.

The pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia, first and second here the last two years, was second again after a closing 68. That was completed despite a brief invasion of the 18th green by two protestors, believed to be campaigning against the building of more courses here, as the Spaniard stood over his second shot.

Scotland's Marc Warren and Spain's Jose Manuel Lara were the only other players in red figures on one under to share third place, while Ireland's Gary Murphy, the joint leader with Fasth overnight, slumped to a 76 to finish in joint 13th at three over.

Fasth never looked back once he claimed the outright lead with a birdie on the sixth. A bogey on the ninth saw his advantage cut to one but crucial birdies at the 10th and 14th effectively sealed victory.

Garcia threatened to make it interesting with a birdie on the 13th to close within two shots but he then missed from six feet for another birdie on the next and his chance had gone. Fasth is the first non-Spaniard to win the title. Miguel Angel Jimenez won the inaugural event in 2003, Garcia in 2004 and Jose Maria Olazabal last year.

* Justin Rose, who led after the first and second rounds, shot a 69 to finish fourth in the final round of the Funai Classic at the Walt Disney resort in Orlando, Florida. Joe Durant shot a bogey-free seven-under 65 to finish 25 under and pick up his first tour victory since March 2001.