CASTELLON, Spain (AP) — Michael Jonzon shot a 4-under 67 on Sunday to win the Castello Masters, allowing him to keep his European Tour card for another year.
The 37-year-old Jonzon finished at 20 under at Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, one shot clear of German Martin Kaymer and fellow Swede Christian Nilsson.
Without a top-10 finish since December, Jonzon needed to come first or second to guarantee he'd be exempt in 2010. He also took home the $500,000 first prize, which is more than four times the biggest check in a 16-year career that includes eight trips to qualifying school.
"I'm on the moon," said Jonzon, whose only previous win in 290 Tour starts was the 1997 Portuguese Open. "It's been desperate for me and I am kind of speechless at the moment. It's unbelievable."
Defending champion Sergio Garcia, who also serves as tournament host, finished three shots off the pace in fourth.
Jonzon led by one entering the final round and was in control most of the day. But a double bogey on the 15th, followed by a bogey at No. 17, allowed Kaymer and Nilsson to draw even.
Jonzon made a birdie on the final hole, and his two pursuers could only manage par.
"It's going to take time to let this sink in, I guess," Jonzon said. "I'm just so thrilled to have a playing status for next year and I'm so proud of myself, the way I handled these days."
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