Italian Open: Englishman Ross McGowan wins first title in 11 years

McGowan holes for birdie on the last green -20 R McGowan (Eng); -19 L Canter (Eng), N Colsaerts (Bel); -18 S Heisele (Ger); -17 A Arnaus (Spa), D Burmester (SA), J Caldwell (NI), M Kaymer (Germany), K Reitan (Nor) Selected others: -12 L Westwood (Eng); -11 J Donaldson (Wal); -9 M Wallace (Eng) Full Classification

Englishman Ross McGowan ended 11 years of waiting for a European Tour title with a one-time win at the Italian Open in San Vigilio di Pozzolengo, Brescia.

The 38-year-old No. 560 started the last day level with Laurie Canter, three strokes ahead of the field.

He birded two of his last three holes to finish in 20 under, one clear of Canter and Nicolas Colsaerts.

It came 11 years and 15 days after he took his first European Tour victory at the Madrid Masters.

There were eight players within one shot of first place before McGowan made a spectacular bunker shot on the 16th at Canter – still in search of his first European Tour title – from the lead for the first time in over 72 hours.

Canter, runner-up to Portugal Masters, responded with a six-foot bird on the 17th par-three but McGowan drilled a 6 foot birdie putt on the last green for an one-under 71 at Chervo Golf Club.

"I hit the ball terribly today, but luckily the putter kept me in it again," said McGowan, who has not been in the top 150 since 2010. of the Race to Dubai ended and had to graduate from Qualifying School in 2015 and 2017.

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"The tee shot at 16 was a shocker, the second shot wasn't much better and then I ran the bunker shot, so I think that was the one that gave me a little faith. It was magical to roll that putt in there last. "