Golf: Brooky holds on for third spot in Spain

New Zealander Lynnette Brooky hung on to finish third in the Caja Duero Open in Spain yesterday.

A subsequent pay cheque of €15,500 ($30,119) lifted Brooky to ninth place on the European Evian Tour's order of merit and gave her a lifeline to compete in the rich Evian Masters in France next week.

Brooky is the first reserve for the $US2.1 million ($4.46 million) Masters starting on June 12 and she squeezed into the field after Sweden's Annika Sorenstam won an LPGA event in the United States.

Sorenstam's 11-stroke victory in the Kelloggs Keebler Classic and the fact Caja Duero Open winner Karine Icher is already exempt for the lucrative tournament, saw Brooky confirmed for an event in which she will join compatriot Marnie McGuire.

Brooky had little luck on the greens yesterday and had to be content with an even-par 72 which saw her post an eight-under 280.

That was three shots back of Frenchwoman Icher, who managed 71 to win the title by one stroke from Spain's Raquel Carriedo.

Brooky was third alongside another Spaniard, Paul Marti, who closed with a 67.

It was Brooky's second successive top-three finish after she had an identical result last week in Portugal.

Gina Scott, of New Zealand, who is 13th on the order of merit, was well down the field yesterday on 291.

* Joint overnight leader Bob Estes fired a one-under 70 yesterday to win the Kemper Open by one shot over Rich Beem.

Beem, the 1999 champion, closed with a 69 for a 10-under total.

Australia's Steve Elkington and Bob Burns, the joint third-round leader with Estes, were another shot back in a tie for third.

The victory was Estes' fourth on the US PGA Tour. He won twice last year, at the FedEx St Jude Classic and the Invensys Classsic.

New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi finished in a tie for 31st on 282 after closing with 72 while compatriot Grant Waite was 63rd equal on 289 after shooting 73.

* Englishman Justin Rose clinched his fourth title of the year when his second consecutive seven-under 65 earned him the British Masters championship by a stroke.

Rose, 21, came from three shots back overnight to take the lead for the first time at the 16th hole on his way to a 19-under 269, one stroke better than close friend and fellow Englishman Ian Poulter.

Overnight leader Phillip Price, of Wales, finished four behind in third place, with Colin Montgomerie alone in fourth a further shot back.

"A fourth victory is amazing when I had not won once as a pro five months ago," said Rose, who was staying with Poulter at his nearby home. Rose's victory offered more proof that the player, who as a 17-year-old thrilled the 1998 British Open gallery by finishing fourth as an amateur, has finally come of age as a professional.

Having turned pro immediately after his 1998 heroics, Rose ran up a dismal record of 21 missed cuts. But the young Englishman, born in South Africa, has put his misery years firmly behind him.

Rose had already won twice in South Africa this year and once in Japan.

Poulter and Rose had to put their friendship on hold as they battled for the $US303,000 ($630,800) winner's cheque down the closing stretch.

The pair - Poulter had lain just a stroke adrift of the overnight lead - were soon toe-to-toe as they ran up a string of birdies.

- AGENCIES