Seventeen and a half year old Matteo Manassero of Italy rewrote The European Tour record books storming to victory at the CASTELLÓ MASTERS Costa Azahar replacing Danny Lee of New Zealand - who was over a year older when he won the Johnnie Walker Classic - as the youngest winner on The European Tour.
In doing so he breaks the legendary Seve Ballesteros' record as the youngest full European Tour Member by 12 days.
The former British Amateur Champion, who shot to prominence when he won the Silver Medal by finishing 13th at The Open Championship in 2009, carded a four under par final round to finish 16 under, four clear of Ignacio Garrido and Gary Boyd.
Having started the final round two shots behind England's Boyd, Manassero applied early pressure with a 12 foot birdie putt at the third before seeing a 40 foot effort rattle in at the par three sixth. Having halved the gap to a single shot, Manassero dropped a shot at the seventh but after the turn he ruthlessly pulled clear of Challenge Tour graduate Boyd.
Two behind standing on the 13th tee, Manassero played a brilliant third shot from the bunker to a couple of feet and birdied, left his approach stone dead at the next, then holed from 15 feet at the 15th to complete his hat trick of gains.
Meanwhile Boyd's previously steady round began to wilt under the pressure - at the 15th he found a bunker from the tee, came up short of the green with his approach and failed to get up and down.
Amidst all the record breaking Peter Lawrie of Ireland finished two under par on Sunday in Castellon to finish five shots off the winner - on 11 under - for a share of third place in a season that also sees him in 33rd place in the Race to Dubai.
Gareth Maybin finished strongly with a round of 67 for a seven under par total.
Damien McGrane signed for 67 to finish two shots further back on 5 under.
Paul McGinley was one under par after a final round of 71.
Shane Lowry carded level par to finish in Castellon on 3 over par total.
Michael Hoey had a total of seven bogeys - and one triple bogey on the par three 16th – on Sunday to finish with a 78 and a total of 6 over par.
