England's Nick Dougherty carded a final round five-under-par 67 yesterday to take his first-ever European Tour victory at Singapore's Caltex Masters.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie challenged throughout but ended up five strokes back after a two-under 70, tied for second with Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands (69).
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark started the day tied with Montgomerie for second, but suffered a pair of double bogies that left him finishing fourth, seven strokes behind his close friend Dougherty, who finished at the tournament 18-under-par.
Dougherty grabbed the lead after the second round and never let go, consistently finding the greens and closing off his holes with classy putting. Although admitting to some nerves playing alongside past tour winners Bjorn and Montgomerie, the 22-year-old hardly stumbled, finishing with a bogey-free round of five birdies, including on the final hole.
"I'm absolutely delighted. When you're playing with Colin and Thomas you really don't think it's over until it's over," a grinning Dougherty said after the win. "Hopefully this is start of many great things to come."
A determined Montgomerie stayed in close contention right up to the 16th hole, when Dougherty won a free drop after hitting his ball into an unplayable position on the lip of a bunker. Dougherty birdied the hole after hitting his approach shot to within three feet and drew three-clear of the pack, while a visibly flustered Montgomerie three-putted for bogey.
"All in all, I think I just about played good enough golf today," Dougherty said.
A the US$1 million Caltex Masters is co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.
Joe Ogilvie turned in a steady if unspectacular round, shooting a 3-under 69 that kept him ahead of the pack at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Driving more accurately than earlier in the week but leaving some of his irons well short of the pin, Ogilvie still managed an eagle and two birdies on par 5s Saturday at La Quinta Country Club to go to 26-under 262.
Peter Lonard of Australia remained two shots behind after also shooting a 69 during the fourth round of the five-day tournament.
Former British Open champion Justin Leonard was another stroke back after a 64 that left him 23 under. Tim Clark had a 66 and was fourth at 266.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who also won the Hope in 2002, had a 68 and was in a group at 268, six shots off the pace.
The 30-year-old Ogilvie, looking for his first tour win, left several of his iron shots 20-25 feet below the pin. He made his eagle on the 512-yard 11th hole by reaching the green in two and rolling in a 3m putt.
Ogilvie, who has appeared relaxed the entire week, smiled and waved to the crowd when his eagle putt dropped.
His best finish on the tour is a second-place tie with Mickelson at New Orleans last year.
RSS