Peter Hanson wins the SAS Masters

8/17/2008

Peter Hanson defied cold, wet and windy conditions to give Sweden their first home winner of the SAS Masters for ten years in Stockholm.

The 30 year old, whose only previous European Tour victory in 174 starts came in Spain three years ago, hung on in a nervous finish to lift the €266,660 first prize by one from compatriot Pelle Edberg and England's Nick Dougherty, who both finished on eight under par.

For Dougherty it meant a runner-up finish in the event for the second year running, but there was real drama attached to his performance this time.

The 26 year old Ryder Cup hopeful tweaked his back during the night and in trying to warm up in the gym it got only worse.

He earned just short of €132,000 and although he stays 14th in the cup race he is now in much closer touch with just two events to go.

Hanson, meanwhile, moves up from 24th to 17th and will play in this week's KLM Open in Holland rather than taking a break because he still has an outside chance to make the team.

He remained one ahead moving to the tee at the last, however, and a superb iron to the heart of the green proved the decisive shot after Edberg had just failed to hole from long range.

German Martin Kaymer finished in joint 14th place after a closing 69 and is now little more than €250 behind tenth-placed Soren Hansen in the cup standings. Hansen took the week off, as did ninth-placed Oliver Wilson.

Chris Wood's professional debut ended with him tied for 18th. The 20 year old from England, a brilliant fifth in The Open Championship last month, had tied for the lead during his second round, but then suffered food poisoning and gradually fell back.

He also has invites for this week's event in Holland, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles that follows and next month's British Masters at The Belfry.

Joint fourth were Scot Gary Orr and English pair Sam Walker and Paul Broadhurst.

Leaderboard – Final:

1. Peter Hanson                 SWE  66 66 68 71 271 - 9
2. Nick Dougherty                ENG  66 66 70 70 272 - 8
    Pelle Edberg                  SWE  69 67 66 70 272 - 8
4. Paul Broadhurst              ENG  67 68 70 68 273 - 7
    Garry Orr                       SCO  67 68 67 71 273 - 7
    Sam Walker                   ENG  72 68 64 69 273 - 7
7. Soren Kjeldsen                DEN  69 65 68 72 274 - 6
8. Daniel Chopra                SWE  71 64 67 73 275 - 5
    Jamie Donaldson            WAL  68 68 71 68 275 - 5
    Bradley Dredge               WAL  71 69 66 69 275 - 5
    Oliver Fisher                   ENG  69 69 68 69 275 - 5
    Raphaël Jacquelin           FRA  73 68 65 69 275 - 5
    Paul McCinley                  IRL  69 70 67 69 275 - 5

Source: European Tour