Haines rallies for win in Italy

Matt Haines closed with a five-under 66 Saturday to come from behind and win the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.

Haines finished at eight-under-par 276 at San Domenico Golf for his first victory on the Challenge Tour.

Third-round leader Daniel Gaunt managed a one-under 70 to end alone in second place at minus-seven. Lorenzo Gagli (66) and Lee Slattery (69) shared third at four-under-par 280.

Haines, who played in the next-to-last group, dropped in back-to-back birdies from the second. His third birdie of the round came at the par-three eighth. Haines parred the ninth to turn at six-under.

The Englishman birdied the par-five 11th, but gave that stroke right back with a bogey on No. 12. Haines jumped to eight-under when he made eagle on the par- five 15th. He parred the last three holes to hang on for the victory.

Gaunt turned at eight-under after birdies on six and nine. He tripped to a bogey on the 10th, but recovered that stroke with a birdie on 15. Heading to the last hole tied for the lead, Gaunt bogeyed the 18th for the second straight day to fall one back and cost himself a chance to win in extra holes.