17 May 2004	Monday	26 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

SHANGHAI, May 16: Miguel Angel Jimenez won his third European Tour title of the year when he swept to victory in the Asian Open by three strokes on Sunday. The 40-year-old Spaniard's final round five-under-par 67 for a 14 under par total of 274 squeezed him ahead of Britain's Simon Dyson.

"I just kept concentrating and tried to be very aggressive," said the Spaniard after coming off the 18th. An eagle at the 568 yard par-five 13th, courtesy of a superb chip-in 20 yards short of the green, catapulted Jimenez into a joint lead with Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng.

However, the diminutive Thai's collapse - he bogeyed four of the last six holes - left the way clear for Jimenez. A birdie at the last hole sealed his victory and winner's purse of over $250,000,

Leading final round scores (Britain unless stated):

274 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 71, 66, 70, 67.

277 - Simon Dyson 66, 69, 66, 76.

278 - Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) 67, 73, 67, 71.

279 - K.J. Choi (South Korea) 67, 73, 71, 68.

280 - Adam Groom (Australia) 69, 69, 71, 71; Paul McGinley (Ireland) 68, 69, 72, 71; Zhang Lian-Wei (China) 70, 69, 70, 71.

281 - Unho Park (Australia) 71, 71, 72, 67; Jean-Francois Lucquin 72, 66, 70, 73.

282 - Marcus Both (Australia) 68, 71, 73, 70; Gergory Hanrahan (US) 67, 71, 75, 69; Jyoti Randhawa (India) 70, 74, 68, 70; Jeev Mikha Singh (India) 71, 71, 70, 70.

283 - Joong Kyung Mo (South Korea) 72, 71, 73, 67; Alex Cejka (Germany) 68, 70, 72, 73.

WOODS STRUGGLES

IRVING: Spain's Sergio Garcia played near flawless golf from tee to green on Saturday in shooting a five-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Byron Nelson Championship.

Jerry Kelly carded a 67 and holds solo second place on nine-under 201. Second-round leader Tiger Woods once again had problems off the tee, but finished with an even-par 70 and an eight-under 202 total to share third place with South African Deane Pappas, who recorded a 66.

Britain's Luke Donald fired the round of the day, a 64, to climb from a tie for 49th to a share of fifth place. Joining Donald on 203 were world number two Vijay Singh of Fiji, Briny Baird, Duffy Waldorf, Dudley Hart and Mark O'Meara.

Leading third round scores (US unless stated):

199 - Sergio Garcia (Spain) 66, 68, 65.

201 - Jerry Kelly 66, 68, 67.

202 - Deane Pappas (South Africa) 67, 69, 66; Tiger Woods 65, 67, 70.

203 - Luke Donald (Britain) 68, 71, 64; Briny Baird 69, 69, 65; Duffy Waldorf 67, 70, 66; Dudley Hart 65, 71, 67; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68, 67, 68; Mark O'Meara 67, 66, 70.

204 - Hank Kuehne 70, 69, 65; Chris DiMarco 69, 70, 65; Rod Pampling (Australia) 66, 72, 66; Ted Purdy 68, 69, 67; Scott Verplank 71, 66, 67; Robert Damron 67, 69, 68; Robert Allenby (Australia) 69, 67, 68; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 66, 69, 69; Jonathan Byrd 67, 67, 70.

205 - J.J. Henry 68, 71, 66; Ernie Els (South Africa) 69, 70, 66; Bo Van Pelt 70, 69, 66; Jason Bohn 69, 69, 67; Tjaart van der Walt (South Africa) 69, 68, 68; Zach Johnson 68, 69, 68; Peter Lonard (Australia) 64, 70, 71. -Reuters