Els breaks duck with five-shot triumph at Scottish Open
LOCH LOMOND (Scotland), July 13: Ernie Els clinched his fifth title of the year with a five-shot victory in the Scottish Open on Sunday, closing with a two-under-par 69.
The South African world number two, who defends his British Open crown at Royal St George’s next week, bounced back from a poor start and survived two bogeys on the second nine to finish on 17-under 267 at a sun-drenched Loch Lomond.
Britain’s Phillip Price, winner of last week’s European Open, and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke carded matching 69s to share second place at 12 under.
Irishman Gary Murphy, with a 67, secured outright fourth at 10-under 274.
Leading final round scores (Britain unless stated):
282 — Scott Henderson 70, 71, 71, 70; Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 74, 69, 69, 70; Phil Mickelson (US) 76, 68, 70, 68; Raymond Russell 70, 72, 71, 69; Shaun Webster 72, 68, 67, 75.
PERRY FIRES 66
MILWAUKEE: Kenny Perry, twice a winner on the US Tour this season, jumped into a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Greater Milwaukee Open on Saturday.
After a round of 66, Perry was on eight-under 202, a shot clear of South African Brenden Pappas, who fired a sparkling seven-under-par 63, Jay Don Blake, Jerry Kelly, Heath Slocum and Australia’s Steve Allan.
Perry, who won this year’s Colonial and Memorial Tournament in consecutive weeks, had two birdies and two bogeys on his card over the front nine at Brown Deer Golf Course.
He birdied the 11th, then ran off three straight birdies beginning at the 15th to finish with a four-under-par 66.
Leading third round scores (US unless stated):
202 — Kenny Perry 69, 67, 66.
203 — Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 72, 68, 63; Heath Slocum 72, 63, 68; Steve Allan (Australia) 69, 66, 68; Jay Don Blake 64, 68, 71; Jerry Kelly 66, 67, 70.
204 — Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 66, 69, 69.
205 — Harrison Frazar 71, 68, 66; Todd Fischer 69, 68, 68; Tommy Armour III 67, 68, 70; Joel Edwards 66, 69, 70; Loren Roberts 69, 66, 70; Brett Quigley 66, 67, 72.
206 — Jeff Gallagher 73, 66, 67; Greg Chalmers (Australia) 70, 70, 66; Hal Sutton 69, 70, 67; Billy Mayfair 67, 72, 67; Rocco Mediate 69, 69, 68; Dennis Paulson 68, 69, 69.—Reuters