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Casey triumphs at Gleneagles by one-shot

25/06/2006

English golfer Paul Casey hung onto his one stroke lead overnight to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Casey shot a final-round of one-under 72, to edge out compatriot Andrew Marshall (69) and Denmark’s Soren Hansen (70).

Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, who was in second place going into the final round, finished joint fourth with Denmark’s Tomas Bjorn after carding a level-par round of 73.

Casey, 28, began well with three straight birdies to extend his lead but bogied the fourth and eighth hole.

But the Ryder Cup player ended the front nine with his fourth birdie to go out in 34 to lead Montgomerie by four shots.

Despite Casey making two bogies on the back nine to reduce his lead to one shot, Montgomerie’s hopes vanished after taking three shots to get out of a bunker on the 17th hole.

"It feels fantastic and more so because I had a lot of great players right behind me," said Casey.

"To play with Colin in Scotland in the final group on a Sunday is very special. When you've got a guy like Monty breathing down your neck it's difficult but it was a lot of fun.

"Although I had a nice start it was never a big enough lead to switch off and cruise home. It was a battle coming home but I got the job done in the end."

Casey is currently fifth in the European Ryder Cup race and is within reach of David Howell at the top of the European Order of Merit.

The victory adds to the Volvo China Open he won in dramatic fashion at the end of last year, coming from six shots behind to beat Oliver Wilson in a play-off.

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