Tournament News
Fernandez-Castano claims Quinn Insurance British Masters title
Sean Quinn Jnr of Quinn Insurance presents Fernandez-Castano with the trophy
The Spaniard started the final round three shots behind Westwood but a brilliant final round 67, which did not contain a single bogey, took him level with the Worksop player on a 12 under par total of 276.
Westwood was level with Michael Campbell after finishing off their third rounds first thing in the morning - Campbell shot 65, Westwood 68 - but the British star then moved three clear.
However, at the 457 yard ninth his approach from the rough ended up right on the edge of the lake and while he bogeyed Campbell made a seven foot putt for birdie.
Westwood, looking to win this title for the second year running to close in on Padraig Harrington at the top of The European Order of Merit, made the perfect start when he birdied the first.
He bogeyed the par four fourth but fought back strongly with birdies at the sixth and then the par three seventh, where he holed a difficult uphill putt.
Fernández-Castaño was two under for his round, with back to back birdies at the fourth and fifth propelling him to within striking distance of his playing partners.
Campbell was still in the hunt and the leading trio - playing as a threeball to make up for time lost to fog on Friday and Saturday morning - all birdied the 15th. Campbell bogeyed the 413 yard 16th and with two holes to play it seemed to be a two horse race.
But the New Zealander birdied the par five penultimate hole and when Westwood and Fernández-Castaño missed their birdie efforts there was a single shot separating the three players as they approached the difficult par four 18th.
Campbell could only make bogey, but the young Spaniard made a superb up and down to force a play-off, a record equalling 14th on The European Tour this season.
Westwood made a brave par putt from eight feet to keep the play-off alive after returning to the tee and the pair went back for a third attempt to find a winner. Next time around it was the player 105th on The European Order of Merit who displayed nerves of steel to hole from eight feet after Westwood had chipped to within inches.
That left them facing a fourth crack at the 18th in rapidly fading light and when Westwood bogeyed the 473 yard hole, the Spaniard took full advantage to earn his fourth European Tour title and biggest payday so far.
"I have to say it's probably the best victory of the four," said Fernández-Castaño, wearing a towel after ending up in the water following the win.
"I have to make a special mention to my wife, who really supported me during this long year.
"I'm really happy, and of course my main goal what I was doing was to get into the last Volvo Masters in Valderrama, and I think I've done that. So I can't ask for any better than that."
"I just struggled with my swing all day and didn’t feel under control at any point," said Westwood afterwards.
"I was pleased to be in a play-off as I felt I really hung in there. 28 holes today was no excuse.
"I just couldn’t feel my swing. I hit a lot of poor iron shots and when Gonzo chipped in on the par three 12th I think the writing was on the wall."
Campbell said: "Unfortunately the first nine the putter was cold on me.
"I came back strong on the back nine and came close but it wasn't good enough."