GOLF: Champions Tour: Eamonn Darcy just missed out on his first success in America when he lost out on the third tie hole to Doug Tewell in the Farmers Charity Classic at Egypt Valley, Michigan, yesterday.
After both players halved the 18th and 10th holes, Tewell rolled in a 13-foot birdie putt after Darcy had come up just short with a 50-foot effort.
Darcy started the day in a tie for seventh place and was quickly into his stride when he rolled in a birdie putt on the second hole. Three birdies in a row from the sixth took him out in 32 and just a shot off the lead.
The Irishman took a two-shot lead with just two to play when he birdied the 16th and 17th, and a par at the last left him round in 65 and a clubhouse lead of two shots.
However, Tewell birdied the 16th and eagled the 17th to force the play-off after both players had finished on 15 under par.
US PGA TOUR: Sergio Garcia held the clubhouse lead after a final round of 69 gave him a four-round total of 10-under-par 274 in the Buick Classic at the Westchester Country Club, Harrison, New York.
However, on the course Jonathan Kaye, at 12 under par, held a one-shot lead over John Rollins through 14 holes.
Garcia looked to be well out of the picture when he bogeyed two of the opening three holes, but birdies at the fifth, sixth and ninth took him out in 35.
He dropped another shot at the 10th but three more birdies in four holes from the 13th had him at 11 under par playing the last.
But a duffed chip from just off the green cost him a bogey six in a home run of 34.
Heavy rain caused the third round to be postponed in mid afternoon on Saturday.
Players began the third round in threesomes from the first and 10th holes in hopes of beating the weather. But after a second delay that began shortly after 1.0 pm, tournament officials decided to halt play for the day.
Play resumed at 9.0 am yesterday morning and Briny Baird completed his round and doubled his lead. Baird, seeking his first career victory, was at 11-under-par 154, two shots ahead of Skip Kendall, who also completed six holes.
EUROPEAN SENIORS: American Jerry Bruner put the memory of one of his most devastating losses behind him when he closed with a fine three-under-par 69 to claim a four-shot victory over Scotland's John Chillas at the Northumberland Seniors Classic at Slaley Hall.
Two years ago the diminutive American saw the title wrested from his grasp when Australia's Noel Ratcliffe holed a 100-yard wedge shot on the final hole to pip him by a single shot.
But this time there was to be no repeat after he raced to the turn in two-under-par 34 and then came home in 35 to finish on 14-under-par 202.
Chillas carded a battling 68 to finish in second place on 206 while England's Bob Cameron came third after posting a 68 for an eight-under-par total of 208.
"I have to admit that it took a while to get over the defeat here in 2001," said Bruner.
Eddie Polland and Denis O'Sullivan finished best of the Irish on 216 - 14 shot behind Bruner.
LPGA TOUR: New Zealander Lynnette Brooky held off England's Trish Johnson to win the French Open title in Paris yesterday.
The 35-year-old Kiwi closed with a final-round five-under-par 67 to finish on a 14-under total at Le Gold d'Arras, one shot clear of her playing partners to claim the €41,250 first prize.
Johnson rattled in six birdies during her 67 but a penalty drop resulting in a bogey at the 13th hole after she hit over the green ultimately cost her the title.
Vibeke Stensrud of Norway birdied the final hole for a 68 to jump into a tie with Johnson.
And in only her second event back from giving birth last April, Sweden's Carin Koch closed with a 68 to take outright fourth place on 10 under par, three shots clear of Spaniard Ana Belen Sanchez, who is making a strong case for automatic Solheim Cup selection, Sweden's Marlene Hedblom and Stephanie Arricau from France.
