CASTELLON, Spain (AP) — Matteo Manassero of Italy became the youngest winner on the European Tour on Sunday, shooting a 4-under 67 to claim the Castello Masters by four strokes.
Manassero finished at 16 under at the Club de Campo Del Mediterraneo to beat Ignacio Garrido of Spain, who had a 68.
The Italian, who is 17 years, 188 days old, eclipsed the record of Danny Lee of New Zealand, who was 18 years, 113 days old when he won the Johnnie Walker Championship in 2008. Manassero had already become the youngest winner of the British Amateur Championship, capturing the title in 2009 as a 16-year-old.
The teen was at a loss to find a way to celebrate his latest accomplishment.
"I am too young to have a drink, I am too young to drive, so I will not be buying a car and I have not got a girlfriend who would like a present," said Manassero, who earned $460,000 for the victory.
"But this was my first chance to win a tournament, which I never thought would come so quickly and to do it is unbelievable. My first aim when I turned professional was to win enough money to keep my card for next year and I achieved that in September."
He started the final round two strokes behind overnight leader Gary Boyd of England, who had a 74 to finish in a four-way tie for third at 11 under. Boyd collapsed down the stretch with three poor drives starting on the 15th hole, leading him to drop four late shots.
Joost Luiten of Netherlands (68), Peter Lawrie of Ireland (70) and Christian Nilsson of Sweden (72) also were at 11 under.
Jose Maria Olazabal was able to overcome his chronic rheumatoid arthritis and play four rounds for the first time in 2010, but he finished with a series of bogeys and then was disqualified after signing for a wrong score.
Olazabal had handed in a 77 to the official recorder when it should have been 78.
"I feel happy to have played four rounds for the first time of the year," the two-time Masters champion said. "The only pain is the way that I played today and what happened afterwards."
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