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Denmark's Huldahl wins Wales Open to join list of surprise 2009 champs

- Wire Services

NEWPORT, Wales -- Jeppe Huldahl shot a 4-under 67 to win the Celtic Manor Wales Open by one stroke on Sunday, giving the world's 377th-ranked player his first European Tour title.

The Dane had four birdies and no bogeys in finishing at 9-under 275 at Celtic Manor. Niclas Fasth of Sweden birdied the last for a 5-under 66 to take second place and Ignacio Garrido (69) of Spain was another shot back in third.

"I am so surprised at winning," Huldahl said. "I was so nervous on the last three holes, I couldn't feel my hands. Playing 18 was a very emotional experience."

The 26-year-old Huldahl moved to the European Tour this year after three years on the satellite Challenge Tour.

Gary Lockerbie, after a week's best 65, and fellow Englishman Danny Willett (67) shared fourth place at 278.

Colin Montgomerie, Europe's Ryder Cup captain, closed with a 71 for 287 and tied for 37th. Rival U.S. captain Corey Pavin had a 73 for 288 and tied 43rd.

Fasth holed a 70-yard lob wedge for an eagle at the 11th.

"I wasn't playing great but the putting came around after I changed to a new putter this week," he said.

He was right in the hunt at that point, but bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17 cost him his chance.

"Normally if I'm comfortable I don't screw up like that, but I am not quite there yet. I haven't been really comfortable all week," said Fasth, a former Ryder Cup player.

Halfway leader Richie Ramsay of Scotland, the 2006 U.S. Amateur champion, escaped a possible two-shot penalty over concern he had broken a rule during the rain-disrupted third round Saturday.

Ramsay was questioned for nearly two hours Saturday night about an incident on the eighth hole, where he was seen on television pressing the ground behind his ball before playing a shot. In the end, no penalty was imposed.

But the Scot did incur a one-stroke penalty for an infraction on the final hole Sunday morning, when he completed the last two holes of his third round, both of which he bogeyed to complete a 5-over 76. He then shot 69 in the final round to tie for 10th.

The little-known Huldahl ensured there was a third surprise winner on the European Tour in just four weeks when he unexpectedly triumphed on Sunday, following the recent out-of-the-blue victories of Irish amateur Shane Lowry and world number 449 Christian Cevaer.

"I knew I was doing well, but I didn't know how well until I asked my caddie on the 18th tee," he said. "He told me I needed a par -- and it's nice to have a par 5 and have a chance to lay up. But I couldn't put winning out of my head and it was quite emotional."

The approximately $400,000 first prize was almost 30 times bigger than Huldahl's previous biggest check, but he won in real style on the course that will stage the Ryder Cup in October of 2010.

Joint leader with England's Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Garrido with a round to play, he didn't drop a stroke on Sunday. Fasth joined him out in front by pitching in for eagle on the long 11th, but Huldahl instantly birdied his next two holes.

Fasth came back at him with birdies on the 13th and 15th, but the former world top-20 player then bogeyed the next two holes and despite piling on the pressure again with a closing 20-foot putt, Huldahl parred the last seven holes to triumph.

Dougherty, though, tumbled all the way down to 37th with a nightmare 79.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved.

 
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