Brier blazes to 2nd Euro Tour victory

Brier enjoyed a comfortable five-stroke win over Australia's Scott Hend, who was even-par on the final day together with Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, who shot a 69 and South African Andrew McLardy who scored a 70 in joint second place at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club.

Appearing in a relaxing manner as he grinned and winked to the TV camera from time to time on the final hole, the 38-year-old eventually realised his dream of claiming a trophy abroad following his maiden in the BA-CA Golf Open back at home in Vienna last year.

"It makes me feel like a better player now as at home. I always had home advantage and the crowd was totally behind me. It is like the next step, winning abroad, and my goals are getting nearer and nearer,'' said Brier, whose maiden triumph outside of Austria was worth US$333,330.

With softer greens due to overnight showers, the 38-year-old Vienna resident was quick off the start, striking two birdies on the second and third holes before a dropped shot on the fourth. Brier, who turned pro in 1995, then pulled away from Hend with two more birdies on the eighth and ninth holes. The Austrian ended his round in style with a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for the win.

McDowell closed with an error-free round of 69, which consisted of birdies on the second and eighth holes.

"I finally broke 70. It's been a frustrating week in some ways but I hit the ball progressively better as the week went on. I would have liked to have put Markus under a bit of pressure," said McDowell, whose previous best result this season was fourth place in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in January.

He totalled five-under-par 279, alongside big-hitter Hend, who sank two birdies and two dropped shots to be on level par, and McLardy, who posted a 70. France's Raphael Jacquelin, the leader in the first two rounds, carded even-par to land on 281 for sixth position which he shared with Australian Peter O'Malley after a final round of 69.

Thai Prayad Marksaeng signed off with 65 after an unblemished round, which took him to eighth place on two-under. The 41-year-old former champion birdied on the second, fifth, eighth, ninth, tenth and 11th.

"I needed just one putt in each of eight holes at the front nine. Today, it was a bit easier for everyone because the wind was not strong and the rain last night made the greens softer,'' said the 1996 title-holder, who would have wrapped up the tournament in better position had he not played a quadruple bogey on Friday.

Prayad, who will enter next week's BMW Asian Open, another co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour series, at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, was joined by France's Jean-Francois Lucquin at eighth.

Prom Meesawat carded a 74 for a total four over par, two better than Thammanoon Srirot who finished with an impressive 69.

Thongchai Jaidee, with a brace of three bogeys and two double bogeys, hit a 75 on a seven over-par 291 overall, a stroke ahead of Chapchai Nirat, who carded a 72.

Swede Steven Jeppsen smashed the course record with a 63, which included five successive birdies from holes 11 to 15 to shoot up to joint 14th on 285.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

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