GolfDigest/Korea Open: Padraig Harrington had to settle for a share of 11th place at the Korean Championship in Jeju Province after a final-round level-par 72 saw the Dubliner finish on three over par, seven shots adrift of American winner Arron Oberholser, who closed with a 69.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez was two shots back in second alongside Kevin Na of Korea after they carded 72 and 70 respectively on the final day.
South African Trevor Immelman was alone in fourth after he enjoyed a seven-under-par 65.
CHINA OPEN: Wales' Stephen Dodd began the new European Tour season yesterday by ending a 15-year wait for his first title.
The 38-year-old from Cardiff, who turned professional after becoming British amateur champion back in 1989, held off the challenge of Ryder Cup Dane Thomas Bjorn to win the China Open in Shanghai by three.
Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie closed with rounds of 69 and 67 respectively to finish tied 18th and collect just under €10,000 each.
"As time goes on you're not sure it's going to happen, so obviously I'm delighted," said Dodd after a 12-foot birdie putt on the last gave him a 12-under-par total of 276 and earned him just under €128,000.
Dodd's career has included no fewer than 10 trips to the qualifying school, the last of them only four years ago.
This was his 166th tour event, but that is not even close to the most anybody has had to wait.
Malcolm Mackenzie finally tasted success at his 509th attempt, Roger Chapman in his 472nd tournament and Carl Mason in his 441st.
"I never believed I wasn't good enough," he added. "If I didn't think that I would have stopped a long time ago. There are lots of people who have been to the school four, five or six times and proved themselves as winners."
Ranked 229th in the world, compared to Bjorn's 31st, Dodd made a nonsense of that apparent gulf in class. He led by three after the second and third rounds as well, and while Bjorn's closing 68 was one of the best scores of the day it did not even narrow the gap.
Dodd, a former Walker Cup player - he was a member of the first Britain and Ireland side to win on American soil 15 years ago - matched it.
It was the 13th runners-up finish of Bjorn's career and third this year. Miguel Angel Jimenez pipped him in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok and Ernie Els in the World Championship at Mount Juliet.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Defending champion Peter Lonard charged home with five late birdies to win the centenary Australian Open by a single shot on Sunday.
While most of his rivals melted in the heat on a scorching day in Sydney, Australian Lonard kept his cool to shoot a final round three-under-par 68 for a total of three-under-par 281.
Stuart Appleby had a chance to force a play-off when he birdied the 16th, but missed birdie putts on the last two holes to finish a shot behind in outright second.
Overnight leader Rod Pampling fell out of contention with a round of 75 but salvaged a birdie at the last to finish tied for third with Steven Bowditch who closed with a 69.
"There is so much history behind this tournament and this is the one every kid in Australia wants to win," a jubilant Lonard said.
"To get my name on the Stonehaven Cup trophy again is fantastic and I proved it wasn't a fluke last time."
Only four players broke par for the tournament as the temperature rose to 39 degrees on the final day, making low-scoring almost impossible as the greens quickened up.
Lonard started the day five shots off the pace after three matching rounds of even par 71 and parred the first 10 holes before making his move.
The 37-year-old, whose career was almost ruined a decade ago when he contracted Ross River Fever, a chronic fatigue illness, had made just six birdies in his first 64 holes but reeled off five birdies in the next seven holes.
He went to the final tee leading comfortably by three, but made a bogey at the last when he hooked his approach shot.
Appleby birdied the 16th to close the gap to a shot. "I thought I blew it on the last but somehow I got away with it," Lonard said.
