Hedblom holds off compatriot to seal Gleneagles win

Peter Hedblom saw off a late surge from fellow Swede Martin Erlandsson to win the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Sunday.

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Hedblom's third European Tour victory in 364 starts was secured by a five under par 67 in the final round, giving him a one-shot victory over Erlandsson, whose 62 was the lowest round of his life.

Erlandsson had come from 20th after the third round to push Hedblom all the way, but the 39-year-old didn't crack under pressure.

The former Malaysian and Moroccan Open champion was especially relieved not to need a play-off. Four times Hedblom has gone into sudden death in his career and four times he has lost - the most recent of them last Sunday in Holland when England's Simon Dyson sank an 18-foot birdie putt.

After hitting nine birdies in his first 12 holes, Erlandsson, who last week closed the KLM Open with a course record-equalling 63, had moved from six behind to two in front.

But Hedblom reeled off four birdies in a row around the turn and secured the lead for good with a superb pitch to four feet on the long 16th.

Then two pars - not easy on bumpy greens he reckoned to be the worst of the year - on the final two holes gave him the £233,330 first prize with a 13 under total of 275.

Defending champion Gregory Havret and Scotland's former Open champion Paul Lawrie shared third place.