BRESCIA, Italy, May 4 (UPI) -- Sweden's Mathias Gronberg held off a determined late charge from Colin Montgomerie Sunday to win his fourth European Tour title in the Italian Open.
Gronberg carded a final-round 7-under-par 65 at Gardagolf for a 17-under total of 271, two shots ahead of Montgomerie, Spain's Jose Manuel Lara and Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.
Montgomerie and Lara also shot closing rounds of 65, Lara missing out on second place on his own after a bogey on the last hole, while overnight leader Gonzalez recorded a final-round 70.
Gronberg collected the winner's check of 127,000 Euros and also his own weight in cheese courtesy of one of the tournament sponsors.
The 33-year-old began the day three shots off the lead but carded four birdies in five holes from the third to be out at the turn in 32. He eagled the par-five 11th to move into the lead.
A bogey on the 14th dropped him back into a tie with Montgomerie and Lara, who were in the clubhouse at 15-under, but birdies at the next two holes sealed a first tour victory since January, 2000.
Montgomerie had been even further off the pace at the start of the final round at 8-under par but got off to a flying start with a birdie at the second hold and an eagle from 20 feet on the third.
The Scot's charge was slowed with a run of seven straight pars before a birdie on the 11th. The 39-year-old then picked up shots at the 15th, where he chipped in, the 16th and the 17th to join Lara as clubhouse leader.
