Golf: If at first you don't succeed ... try another 508 times

VERSAILLES - A final-hole birdie ended Malcolm Mackenzie's 21-year wait for a European Tour title yesterday when he won the French Open at Versailles by a stroke.

The win - a closing level-par 72 for a 14-under-par 274 aggregate - was the Briton's first in 509 tournaments.

It beat the previous record for most events played before winning set by compatriot Roger Chapman, who won the Brazil Open in 2000 on his 472nd start.

Mackenzie, 40, had to overcome a nervous start in the final round and an even more anxious finish before holding off the runner-up, South African Trevor Immelman.

Mackenzie's second shot over the water at the par-five last earned him the $300,000 prize as he hit a two-iron 191 yards to 15 feet on the island green and putted up for a four.

That ended playoff hopes for Immelman, 22, who equalised with a birdie on the 17th after Mackenzie had allowed a three-shot advantage, with four holes to go, to ebb away.

Mackenzie made more in one tournament than he had picked up in total in the past three years as he leapt from 146th on the European rankings to seventh.

"I was overdrawn at the bank before this week and I never thought this would happen. It's worth all the 20 years or so of hard work and I can now plan my life. This opens so many doors," he added.

It was a disastrous day for New Zealander Stephen Scahill, who began the final round in good shape. He plunged 43 places with a horror last-round 82.

The Featherstone golfer, who began the final round at eight under par and six from the lead on the National Club course, eventually ended in a share of 51st. He was the only player in the final eight groups to shoot over par yesterday.

Scahill's £4939 ($16,440) prize cheque has eased him to 84th on the European money list with earnings this year of £46,199 ($151,472).

* In New Orleans, a steady K. J. Choi made history at the Compaq Classic tournament with a four-stroke victory over Australian Geoff Ogilvy and American Dudley Hart.

Choi, who was the first Korean-born player to earn his PGA Tour card in 1999, is now the first Korean to win a tournament on the tour in its 34-year history.

New Zealanders Frank Nobilo and Craig Perks finished at 285, 14 shots behind Choi, after both had rounds of 71 yesterday.

Fellow New Zealander Grant Waite had a 73 to end five shots back.

* Lynnette Brooky battled ferocious winds to finish fifth in the Tenerife Open women's tournament in the Canary Islands yesterday.

The Wellington professional finished with a 10-over-par total of 298, six strokes behind Spain's Raquel Carriedo in the €200,000 ($408,936) event.

Fellow New Zealanders Gina Scott and Catherine Knight both missed the second-round cut.

The high scoring reflected the 80km/h winds which buffeted the course throughout the first three rounds.

Brooky collected €8480 ($17,341) for her efforts, taking her to 12th place on the European order of merit.

- AGENCIES