PAUL CASEY romped to victory in the last-ever Benson and Hedges International Open at the Belfrey yesterday and then promptly thanked Hampshire's Justin Rose for spurring him on.

The 25-year-old from Surrey won by four shots over Ireland's Padraig Harrington with an 11-under par total in blustery conditions around the venue for last year's Ryder Cup and was £183,330 richer for his efforts.

But he put some of his victory down to the partnership he shared with Rose when the pair represented England at the World Cup in Mexico last year.

"I've known Justin since we were 11 or 12 years old. When I got a late call to partner him in the World Cup I didn't want to let him down after the year he had had last year.

"But I felt I didn't let him down, we gelled as a team and I felt as good as Justin."

Casey and Rose are among a handful of rising young English stars in the game and Casey added: "Justin had a fantastic year last year with four wins.

"I would love to have as good a year this year as he did last."

Casey, who added the B&H crown to his ANZ title in Australia earlier this year and the Scottish PGA title he won last season, began the final day at the Belfry yesterday in a tie for first place with Irishman Harrington and New Zealander Stephen Scahill.

He shot a one under par final round 71 to Harrington's three over 75 and Scahill's four over 76. Scahill finished joint third with Dutchman Rolf Muntz and former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, who had a hole-in-one with a seven-iron at the par three seventh.

Casey's win was all the sweeter as it was at the Belfry two years ago that he made his professional debut, finishing 12th.

Rose finished well down the field on a five over par despite a final day one under 71, but did achieve an eagle two at the inviting par four tenth - and hit both shots with the same club. After finding the fringe with a three-wood Rose, 22, used it again and holed out.

The southern contingent of pros at the Belfry had a mixed bag over the weekend.

Hayling Islander Matthew Blackey had a good weekend with rounds of 69 on Saturday and two under 70 yesterday to creep into joint tenth spot and a cheque for just under £20,000.

Broadstone's Gary Emerson started the final day one under but a two over par 74 relegated him to joint 22nd place while Richard Bland finished just outside the top 30 at three over par.

Brokenhurst Manor's Martin Le Mesurier celebrated his first full year on the European Challenge Tour with a win in the Tessali - Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata in Italy. The 26-year-old birdied two of his closing three holes to force a three-man play-off. He claimed his maiden victory and a cheque for just over £13,000 at the second extra hole, a result that lifted him into eighth place in the Challenge Tour rankings.