Spain's Sergio Garcia held off a charging Peter Hedblom of Sweden to win the Castello Masters title on Sunday, his first European Tour success for three years. Tournament host Garcia's closing four-under 67 for a 20-under 264 four-round aggregate left him three shots ahead of Hedblom (66) and hauled the 28-year-old Spaniard to number three in the world rankings. Holding a four-stroke overnight lead and opening with a birdie, Garcia saw his advantage whittled down to one when Hedblom picked up shots at the first four holes. When a nervous-looking Garcia, watched by relations, friends and neighbors at the Castellon course where he learned the game, bogeyed the short sixth, he was caught by Hedblom. However, two immediate birdies to follow the blemish steadied the ship for Garcia, who went on to complete his first European Tour victory since the September 2005 European Masters, this one worth $446,00. It ended a run of seven second places since his win three years ago in Switzerland. His seventh European Tour success moved Garcia up two places on the world rankings, leap-frogging Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington who drop to fourth and fifth place respectively. Hedblom proved to be Garcia's only real threat as he finished two shots ahead of fellow countryman Alex Noren (65). Britons Simon Dyson (69) and David Lynn (69) assured themselves of places in the Volvo Masters by finishing a further stroke back on 14 under with Dane Soren Kjeldsen (69). Alfredsson wins in China Helen Alfredsson shot a 7-under 65 on Sunday to win the Grand China Air tournament, beating Yani Tseng by three strokes for her second victory of the season. The 43-year-old Swedish player, Europe's 2007 Solheim Cup captain, trailed second-round leader Karen Stupples by five strokes entering the final round of the 54-hole event, the first LPGA tournament in China. Alfredsson finished at 12-under 204 after opening rounds of 70-69. Tseng of Taiwan, who won the LPGA Championship earlier this season at 19 and is viewed as a future star, finished with a 68. Laura Diaz of the United States, the first-round leader after a 63, was four back after a 72. Stupples of England was five back with a 75. Young Kim of South Korea had a 71, six off the pace, and China's Shanshan Feng carded a 68 and finished seven behind. Feng is the only Chinese player on the LPGA Tour. Diaz and Stupples were trying to end victory droughts. Stupples hasn't won in four years, and Diaz in six. But they both crashed on the back nine, when Stupples had four bogeys and Diaz had three.
