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NEWPORT, June 6: Britain's Simon Khan became the second surprise winner on the European Tour in a week when he beat compatriot Paul Casey in a sudden-death playoff for the Wales Open title on Sunday.
It was Khan's maiden Tour success. Casey, three shots ahead overnight, led Khan by four strokes with seven holes to go but threw away his big advantage before managing to birdie the last to survive to a playoff.
Both men were on 21-under-par 267, four shots clear of the field, after Khan closed with a five-under-par 67 to Casey's 70. The duo scrambled par at the first extra hole but then Khan claimed the $450,000 first prize with a birdie at the second. Third place went to France's Jean-Francois Remesy who closed with a 65 for 271, two ahead of Australia's Nick O'Hern (68).
Leading final round scores:
267 - Paul Casey (Britain) 69, 63, 65, 70; Simon Khan (Britain) 69, 61, 70, 67 (Khan won sudden-death playoff at second extra hole).
271 - Jean-Francois Remesy (France) 71, 69, 66, 65.
273 - Nick O'Hern (Australia) 70, 67, 68, 68.
274 - Martin Maritz (South Africa) 69, 71, 67, 67; David Howell (Britain) 65, 74, 67, 68; Alastair Forsyth (Britain) 74, 66, 65, 69; John Bickerton (Britain) 70, 71, 63, 70.
276 - Stephen Dodd (Britain) 70, 69, 67, 70; James Kingston (South Africa) 70, 66, 66, 74; Ian Poulter (Britain) 71, 69, 66, 70.
ELS TAKES LEAD
DUBLIN: South African Ernie Els took advantage of calm conditions to grab a two-shot lead over Fred Couples, K.J. Choi and Justin Rose after the third round of the $5.25 million Memorial Tournament on Saturday.
Els fired a flawless, six-under-par 66 to finish 12-under on 204 at Muirfield Village. American Couples (68), Choi (68) and Rose (69) were tied for second place on 206.
Tiger Woods recorded one of his best rounds of the year, a five-under 67 putting him on 207 along with Stephen Ames (70) of Trinidad and Tobago.
Leading third round scores:
204 - Ernie Els (South Africa) 68, 70, 66.
206 - Fred Couples (US) 69, 69, 68; K.J. Choi South (Korea) 71, 67, 68; Justin Rose (Britain) 70, 67, 69.
207 - Tiger Woods (US) 72, 68, 67; Stephen Ames (Trinidad & Tobago) 69, 68, 70.
210 - Kenny Perry (US) 72, 72, 66; Ben Curtis (US) 68, 69, 73.
211 - Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 72, 69; Jay Haas (US) 70, 72, 69.
212 - J.L. Lewis (US) 70, 72, 70; Zach Johnson (US) 69, 73, 70; Todd Hamilton (US) 69, 70, 73. -Reuters
