Gonzalez finishes on a high

Gonzalez: birdie streak

SAS Masters
Final leaderboard
GB&Ire unless stated
-10 R Gonzalez (Arg)
-8 J Donaldson
-6 J Huldahl (Den)

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Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez birdied five of the last six holes to claim a two-shot victory at the SAS Masters in Malmo.

The highlight of Gonzalez' hot streak was a holed bunker shot for birdie at 17 from a plugged lie - described by Sky Sports on-course analyst Richard Boxall as 'the best bunker shot' he had ever seen.

That birdie three edged Gonzalez ahead of England's Jamie Donaldson and he followed it up with a superb recovery shot to four feet after driving into the trees at 18. Inevitably, he duly knocked in the birdie putt.

That wrapped up a fourth European Tour title for the 39-year-old ranked 316 in the world, but his first since the 2004 Seville Open.

"I had never given up hope of winning and I was confident with the chip on 17," Gonzalez said. "Even though it was a 'fried egg' in the sand. I have been teaching my caddie how to play that fried egg shot.

"In the trees on the 18th I had only about a three-metre gap to go through but it looked much smaller. It was either luck or a great shot, maybe both."

Donaldson had to settle for second place after a 68 lifted him from a share of 12th overnight.

Donaldson has still to win a Tour title nine years after partnering Paul Casey and Luke Donald to second place in the world amateur team championship.

But the 33-year-old was feeling good about this near miss. "I had only 21 putts and didn't do anything wrong," he said.

Gonzalez earned £142,938 and Donaldson £95,294, while third place went to Denmark's Jeppe Huldahl, winner of the Wales Open early last month.

Huldahl led by three at the turn as overnight leader Marcus Fraser struggled on his 31st birthday, but bogeyed the 10th and 11th and dropped further shots at the last two as well.

Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson could not get inspired by playing on his home course all week and with two closing double bogeys for a 76 finished down in 73rd place on 10 over.