Fernandez-Castano wins Italian Open in play-off

Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano has won the Italian Open at Tolcinsco after a play-off with Austrian Markus Brier.

Fernandez-Castano had been six shots behind before storming home in a brilliant 30 –and won the play-off with a five-foot birdie putt at the second hole.

It was the third European Tour win of the 26-year-old’s career, following the Dutch Open in 2005 and the Asian Open last season.

England's Nick Dougherty finished in a tie for third with Swedes Henrik Nystrom and Fredrik Andersson Hed and defending champion Francesco Molinari, who last year became the first home winner since 1980 and would also have been in the sudden death shoot-out if he had holed from 10 feet at the last.

The event was reduced to three rounds because of earlier rain and the threat of final-day thunderstorms which never come.

Brier made it a three-way tie with birdies at the 16th and 17th before missing a 20-foot attempt for another on the 18th. He and Fernandez-Castano were round in 65 and 68 respectively for a 16-under-par total of 200.

Jeev Milkha Singh, meanwhile, missed out on the third place he needed to climb back into the world's top 50 and qualify for this week’s Players Championship in Florida.

The Volvo Masters champion, who a month ago became the first Indian to earn a place in the Masters at Augusta, resumed in joint seventh spot, but came only 26th after a 72.

“I wanted to get in, but I’m not too disappointed because I’ve done a lot of travelling lately and it would have meant another long trip,” said Singh, who began the week 54th in the rankings.

France’s Raphael Jacquelin could have qualified for Sawgrass as well by winning and when he posted his 65 he was in joint second place. But he eventually wound up tied seventh on 14 under.

Last year’s American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman finished on eight under and compatriots Duffy Waldorf and Steve Jones, also invited to take part, were both five under.

Ireland's Peter Lawrie finished on -10, while Gary Murphy finished on -7.

England’s Nick Dougherty worringly saw yet another title chance slip away in Milan today.

The 24-year-old from Liverpool, who led the Singapore Masters in March with three holes to play and then double-bogeyed the 16th and 17th, was three clear at the Italian Open at Tolcinsco with nine to go.

This time, however, Dougherty bogeyed the 12th and 17th and by coming home in a desperately disappointing 38 – one of the worst back nines of the day – he lost by one.

Instead