Golf: Fasth does it with panache

Swedish golfer Niclas Fasth got angry before getting even by winning the $1.5 million New Zealand Open in a dramatic playoff near Auckland today.

Fasth went on a scoring blitz in shooting nine-under-par 63 for a championship card of 22-under 266, the same as Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, who sunk a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a round of 66 and forced the playoff at Gulf Harbour Country Club.

The Swede secured the winner's cheque of $270,000 by nailing a 12-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole, the first time in the championship that he had beaten par at the par-four downhill 18th.

Tunnicliff had halved the first playoff hole of the European and Australasian co-sanctioned event but not without incident as his iron approach to the 18th struck a young girl, June Eun Jung, flush on the head, as she stood among the gallery around the green.

The ball ricocheted at an almost 90 degree angle about 15m away to sit in greenside rough.

Miss Jung, 12, who lives in Whangaparaoa, was taken from the area conscious but on a stretcher.

Fasth, 32 and a European Ryder Cup player in 2002, had started the day seeking his seventh career title in fourth equal place -- four shots shy of overnight leader Oliver Wilson, of England -- before running down his rivals and taking the lead for the first time at the sixth hole with an eagle three.

Tunnicliff, second overnight, joined him atop the leaderboard by holing out from a greenside bunker on the 12th before the Swede unveiled an immaculate sand wedge on 17 and nailed the six-foot birdie putt to hit the lead again.

Tunnicliff squandered a gilt-edged chance to join Fasth at 22-under when he pushed a four-foot birdie putt right of the hole on the 17th before finding atonement at the next.

Fresh from victory, Fasth, ranked No 155 in the world, was understandably pleased with himself, in stark contrast to yesterday when he went backwards by shooting a three-over 75 following earlier rounds of 65 and 63.

He stayed at the course until dusk last night, working on his game until he was again in a positive frame of mind.

"Saturday was very tough, the wind knocked off my feel for the putting," he said.

"I thought today I made a really strong performance to come from behind.

"I was proud of my birdie at 17, it was a very difficult bunker shot and it gave me strength."

Fasth had faith in his putter entering the playoff, which was not surprising because he had posted 20 birdies and four eagles during regulation play.

"I said to my caddie, 'give me a putt and I'll knock it in".

Third, four shots back of Fasth and Tunnicliff, were Australians Simon Nash, who carded 67 in his fourth successive sub-par round, and left-hander Richard Green, who managed 68.

Swede Robert Karlsson improved to fifth equal on 271 with wily Australian Peter O'Malley, thanks to a fine 66, while O'Malley was one worse than that.

Wilson, 24, slipped back to a tie for seventh following a disappointing 74 which put him level with five others on 273, including New Zealander Steven Alker.

Alker marched home with a seven-under 67 while compatriot Stephen Scahill shot an identical number to be another two back.

The third home country player to safely negotiate the halfway cut, left-hander Gareth Paddison, was well back despite closing with 69, his best return of the tournament.

The lowest round of today went to England's Simon Webster, who set a course record 10-under 62 after teeing off in ideal early morning conditions.

Webster and playing partner Scott Herd, of Australia, rushed around the layout in three hours 10 minutes after being the first away, Webster due to his shocking 80 in the third round yesterday.

Herd, the tournament's first reserve, volunteered to partner Webster so the Englishman - 79th and last after the third round - did not play with the company only of a marker.

Two Australians, Ricky Schmidt and Greg Chalmers, shot 64s to finished in a tie for 13th and 17th respectively.