Levet reigns in Spain after Davis challenge disintegrates

Frenchman Thomas Levet eased to his fifth European Tour title yesterday, clinching victory in the Spanish Open in Girona by two strokes. Levet overcame early setbacks to post a final-round 68 for an 18-under-par and finish ahead of Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and Peter Lawrie of Ireland shared third place, four adrift of Levet. Two strokes ahead off Briton Stuart Davis overnight, Levet conceded the lead by the third to the Englishman, who birdied the first three holes of the afternoon.

Davis moved two strokes clear but his double-bogey on the fifth drew the pair level and Levet moved back in front with three successive birdies from the sixth. Zanotti, starting the round five behind Levet, picked up shots on the first three holes and proved to be the Frenchman's chief rival as Davis' challenge disintegrated.