The Daily Telegraph from London, Greater London, England • 44

0 S10 MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1998 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH Golf: Fitness to strong finish but Westwood finds magical touch to close in with 61 LEE WESTWOOD squeezed nine birdies and an eagle into a 61 the lowest round of his career and two strokes inside the course record in yesterday's European Tournament Players' ChampionGut Kaden, Hamburg. But he had to settle for a share of third place with the US Masters champion, Mark O'Meara, was round in 63. behind Paul Broadhurst and Darren Clarke, who both shot 65s to move 18-under-par on 198. Sixty-two players out of a field of 82 bettered par in the warm, still conditions, but they did not include the favourite before the tournament began, Colin Montgomerie, who was one behind at the off and whose 72 left him eight adrift in joint 21st place. Westwood's was a magical effort.

He had halves of 31 and 30 and his round could so easily have been Europe's first 59 even a 58 or a 57. The young player who has taken the world of golf by storm with victories in Spain, Japan, Australia and United States in recent months, rediscovered his putting touch with a vengeance, holing three efforts of between 25 and 40 feet, Perversely, however. he missed four times from inside eight feet. He said: "I've been so bad on the greens I switched putters today and used the leftbelow-right method on the second after missing from eight feet at the first. I missed from five feet there and switched back again.

The rest is history. "Stuart Cage spotted I was cutting across the putts, and the other thing that helped me today was Gary Player's advice at the Masters to lose some weight. "I've shed five pounds by cutting out chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks and working on the bike and the treadmill in the physio wagon and as a result I had the stamina to put in a four-birdie On any other day even better than I did at By Richard James in Hamburg Augusta," he said. Westwood's round would O'Meara and Jarmo Sandesurely have swept him clear lin, who accused him of not of the field but Clarke, the marking his ball properly in winner of the Benson and the event last SepHedges event a fortnight tember, finally met face to ago, is in brilliant form and face during Saturday's threeBroadhurst. 57th in the mon- hour suspension of play ey-list and a non-qualifier on because of a storm.

his last two outings, has The Swede, who finished a rediscovered his scoring stroke behind O' Meara in touch. Paris, said: "I told him it was He has been blocking out my belief that if you can win tee-shots but two 65s in a row a major you're supposed to bear testimony to the fact know what's right and wrong that he is doing so no longer. on the greens and that it was Yesterday he made up six hard to accept you could strokes on Montgomerie, his make a mistake like that playing partner, in as many after playing golf for 20 years holes. and marking your ball maybe He explained: "I thought I times. could niggle him by holing tried to change the some putts early and subject to my match against that's probably what hap- Phil Mickelson in the 1996 pened.

I made a 25-footer at Dunhill Cup when I made to the first and he missed from shoot a gun at the hole every 15 feet and then I hit a great time I made a birdie. Mark drive to birdie the third and then walked away." he drove out of bounds for a Nick Price, eight off the six." lead in Hamburg after a 68. Broadhurst, who lost a was sticking by his claim that play-off in 1993 in Hamburg, professional golf, has its was out in 30 but he failed to cheats, birdie the par-fives at 15 and He added, however: 17. tamper with the ball So did Clarke, but each in cricket and put cork in the time he bounced back with a bats in baseball. I've known birdie, holing from 20-feet for only three or four fudgers in, a two at the 16th then golf in my lifetime.

There are punching a 190-yard four- far fewer dishonest players iron to four feet at the last. in golf." O' Meara was full of praise Neil Coles holed two 20ft for the quality of European -putts on the 18th golf but he is quietly confi- green omithino 15 minutes of dent that he can follow up each clinch victory last year's Trophy in a play-off for the Philips victory with another suc- PFA Golf Classic at Meon cess. "I'm striking the ball Valley, near Southampton, vesterday. Coles, 63. knocked in the first putt for a closing 67 to DETAILS TOURNAMENT PLAYERS' CH'SHIP (Ham- tie on 13 under par, at 203.

land unless Leading stated): 3rd-rd 198- -P scores Broadhurst (GB Ire- 68, with Northern Ireland's for65, 65; Clarke 67, 66, 65. 199-L mer PGA Club champion Westwood 69, 69, 61, O' Meara (US) 67, 69, 63. 200 -P Senior (Aus) 69, 67, 64, 201- David Jones, who holed his Van de Velde (France) 67, 67, 67. 202-J birdie-putt from three feet. son Haeggman 70, 66, 66.

(Sweden) 203-M-A 69, 70, 63; Jimenez Hender- (Spain) When they played the 69, 69, 65, Howell 69, 68, 66; Mitchell short, 296-yard dog-leg 18th 66, 70, 67, May (US) 67, 68, 68; Langer (Germany) 67, 66, 70, again in the play-off Jones, 204-1 Woosnam 69, 71, 64; Walton 69, the younger of the pair by 12 70, 65, Haugsrud (Norway) 71, 66, 67. years, was again inside 205-P McGinley 65, 74, 66, Quirici (Switzerland) 68, 70, 67; I Garbutt 70, 68, 67; Coles. but the former Ruder Goosen (S Africa) 68, 68, 69. 206- Lawrie Cup player once more rolled 68, 72, 66; Singh (India) 69, 70, 67, Canonica (Italy) 67, 71, 68, Price (Zimba- his putt home. Jones' effort bwe) 70, 68, 68, Farry (France) 72, 66, 68; this time stopped on the Torrance 68, 69, 69; Westner (S Africa) 70, 66, 70; Montgomerie 67, 67, 72.

edge. Cycling: Inaugural event hailed a success Streets of the leading pack in the Prutour head along Chancery Lane before sweeping down to Fleet Street Picture: GARY PRIOR Clarke and Broadhurst still make running YERS CHA A UROPE NEWS Paul Broadhurst watches his tee-shot at the European Tournament Players' Championship, in which he shared first place Picture: STEFAN HESSE US GOLF Weather delays Couples FRED COUPLES was poised for his second US tour win of the of the year when he was forced off the course for a second time in the final round of the Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, yesterday, writes Bill Blighton. He had to contend with a tornado watch, blustery winds and hail but was 16 under par and three strokes ahead of fellow American Andrew Magee, who birdied the 17th from three feet just before the siren sounded. Couples was hoping to atone for two of the most disappointing months of his career after surrendering two-stroke leads in the last round of the Masters and the Byron Nelson WOMEN'S GOLF Ratcliffe fights back to see off Walters at 19th By Lewine Mair WHEN Elaine Ratcliffe defeated Liza Walters at the 19th in Saturday's final of the English Women's Amateur Championship at Walton Heath, her faithful caddie, Alan Walker, dissolved into tears. Had he been Andy Prodger and about to receive 10 per cent of a Colin Montgomerie he could scarcely have been more overcome.

In fact, his was an entirely understandable reaction at the end of a morning in which Ratcliffe, though two up after four holes, was two down with three to play. Walters, 19 years of age and brimful of confidence. did not mind she thought she had the match in the bag. The spectators, who had multiplied over the sunlit morning, seemed to be of much the same opinion. What is more, their opinion was reinforced as Walters hit two sumptuous woods to the back of the green at the 16th.

Then came par the dramatic twist. As the crowd was beginning to turn its attention to lunch. Walters took three get down to lose the hole to a chip and putt birdie. Now only one ahead, the younger player clung to her lead at the short 17th but saw it disappear at the last where Ratcliffe hit a killer of a second, a wedge to four feet. "I couldn't have caught it any said Ratcliffe later.

There can be no finer stage: for the denouement match than Walton Heath's 19th, a 237-yard par three nestling on the same side of the road as the clubhouse. Ratcliffe she wanted. a which finished a wood shade short but safe. Walters failed to seize the opening, pulling her tee-shot left. Then it was all down to the short games and Ratcliffe, after judging her chip to perfection, bagged her par.

Overall, the quality of the golf was not quite in the same league as that on the first day when Ratcliffe was a total of nine under par in defeating first Kate Burton and then Jill Thornhill. Yet there was hardly a soul who as Australian wins 900-mile race from Stirling to London O' 'Grady's lead never in doubt as he wins Prutour By Phil Liggett STUART O'Grady, 24 and a member of Chris Board- man's GAN team. won the first Prutour which rolled to a halt in Holborn, London, yesterday after 900 miles and nine days racing from Stirling. The Australian, who took the lead at York, where team-mate Boardman relinquished the red jersey after leading for the first two days, was never troubled throughout. Yesterday, the team controlled a highspeed last stage of 50 miles around a mile circuit based on Holborn and Fleet Street which was won by another Australian, Jay Sweet (Bigmat), who added a second win to that in Blackpool.

Britain's Matt Illingworth ended an excellent race for the home-based Brite Voice team by winning the £1,000 anniversary sprint, but the fast-moving field caught up before the last lap. O'Grady, whose French team, GAN, won the major share of the £100,000 prizemoney, said: "I would have Classic two weeks ago. On ball in sand at the 18th for both occasions he hit six-iron initial stoppage and failed to approaches into a lake but this get up and down on his return. time he had safely negotiated Faldo said: "It was not a all the water holes on Jack great finish but a lot of good Nicklaus's Muirfield Village came out of this week. I am course.

striking the ball 100 per cent Nick Faldo was held up for better than I was a month almost an hour but managed ago." to complete his closing T'MENT (Dublin, Early final rd scores (US unless stated) effort, a disappointing 74 to 277-J Furyk 74, 68, 67, 68. 278-B Chambfinish on a four below par lee 71, 72, 66, 69. 279-M Calcavecchia 68, 69, 72, 70; Herron 72, 72, 67, 68. 280-J 284. It relegated him to a Parnevik (Sweden) 73, 71, 66, 70; Damron share of 31st place after he 70, 70, 69, 71; Day 73, 72, 65, 71; Stadler 67, 73, 70, 70; Lehman 68, 70, 70, threatened to mount a chal- 72.281-B Tway 70, 73, 68, 70; Lancaster with a birdie at the 73, 69, 68, 71; Triplett 67, 71, 70, 73; lenge Perry 71, 69, 68, 73; Nobilo (NZ) 71, 72, 69, second hole and an eagle at 69; Tway 70, 73, 68, 70; Leonard 69, 70, the fifth where he struck his 71, 71.

282-B Quigley 69, 69, 70, 74. 184-J Cook 74, 68, 68, 74; Mattiace 68, 67, 73, shot of the week a two iron 76; Huston 69, 75, 65, 75; Lowery 73, 71, to within 12ft of the flag. 71, 67; Forsman 69, 75, 68, 70, Haas 69, 76, 67, 70; Wiebe 72, 70, 68, 72. 283-B But he found bunker trou- Fabel 71, 71, 70, 71; Jones 68, 71, 72, 72. ble at the 14th for a double- 284-B Mayfair 72, 73, 68, 71; Janzen 68, 74, 70, 72; Stricker 71, 72, 68, 73; Faldo bogey six and had to leave his (GB) 71, 70, 69, 74.

YESTERDAY'S STAGE Stage 8 50 miles 80.5km CITY OF LONDON START FINISH Holborn Lane Chancery Fetter Lane New Fleet Street Holborn Holborn: 0 Miles 0.5 liked to have won. the stage just to pay back boys for the work they throughout the nine but the most important was to win the race overall." O' Grady, who has won track medals at the championships, Commonwealth and Olympic was voted the top track in the world in 1994, although he will stay loyal the Australian selectors until the Sydney 2000 pics, after that he will still young enough to concen- Saturday, when the police trate on a lucrative road estimated 700.000 watched career. the stage from Reading turning professional Rochester won by O'Grady in 1995, but only after a deal in a photo-finish. were eviwas made with the Austra- dence of the need for a major lian Federation over his race in Britain once more. availability for track races, Before the Prutour, Debthe man from Ingle Farm in bie Mansveld, from Holland, South Australia found the won the richest women's same magnetic draw to road race staged in Britain, when racing which Boardman had she took the major share of discovered two seasons the £4.000 after breaking earlier.

clear to win by 18 seconds. His father, Brian, who had Mansveld, eighth in the never seen his son ride a world championship last road race, followed the Pru- October, finished ahead of tour throughout, losing -mate Arenda Grimcount of the films he shot. berg and Switzerland's Siland returning to Australia via Zoller. Angela Hunter, in final unable to make provision in sixth place, was the best the his schedule to follow Stuart home rider. did in next month's Tour de to stage (Chessington days, France.

Medway, 105 miles): 1, o' Grady (Australia, GAN) 4h 21m 47s; 2, Backstedt thing Yesterday morning the (Sweden, GAN); 3, Sweet (Australia, Bigsponsors, Prudential, said mat Auber 93); 4, Priem (Australia); 5, Miller (NZ); 6, Tomi (Italy, Mobilvetta) all 12 they would continue with same time. race next year, despite 8th stage (Holborn, 50 miles): 1, Sweet world the the tragedy when a member 1h 39m 12s; 2, D. McKenzie (Australia nat'l team); 3, A Korff (Germany, Festina); 4, Games, of the police escort died on (GB nat'l team); 5, Backstedt Lillywhite rider Thursday, although the acci- (Sweden, GAN); 6, O'Grady; 8, Boardman and dent was accepted as being (GB, GAN) all same time. to outside of the organisation's Final overall: 1, behind; 3, Grady Baranowski O' 2, Boardman 46s control. (Poland, US Postal Service) 4, Stephens (Australia, Festina) 5, HamOlym- The massive crowds which ilton (US, US Postal Service) 6, Dabe turned out, especially on cruz (France, Bigmat Auber 93) 1:33.

IN 1995 UMBRO SIGNED AN UNKNOWN SCHOOLBOY. Carling Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, 18 Premiership goals, youngest player ever to win the Golden Boot and score for England. Michael Owen's proved us right. was not impressed by the players' swings, their shotmaking ability and the spirit in which this riveting final was played. The only disquieting aspect of the week was the extent to which some parents were involved.

Though fathers and mothers have been banned from caddying at girls' level since two fathers carne to blows on the last green of the Girls' Championship at Alnmouth in 1962, that ban was never extended to the senior arena. Nothing has maybe accentuated the present problem more than the relatively new practice, which has come into the game via the professional ranks, of caddies lining up their players. At Walton Heath, parents who would once have done nothing more than advise on the right path in life, were checking that their daughters were. correctly aligned over every shot. What is more, while one parent was on the bag, the other was often serving as a forecaddie.

Liz McCombe, chairman of England's selectors, believes that something must be done: "Apart from anything else. you have to ask how. these players will react when we take them away for team events and they don't have their parents there to line them Rebecca Hudson, meanwhile, is today off to Buckingham Palace for a young achievers' party. suspects that her invitation had its origins in a game she and Justin Rose, her fellow Daily Telegraph Young Golfer of 1997, had with Prince Andrew at Sunningdale earlier in the year. While she is at the Palace, Rose will be playing his first qualifying round in the Amateur at Muirfield together with his Spanish counterpart.

Sergio Garcia. Both of these teenagers have responded magnificently to their outings on this year's PGA European Tour and both want to win this week and tee up at Augusta in the spring. ENGLISH AMATEUR WOMEN'S CH'SHIP (Walton Heath, Ratcliffe (Sandiway) bt Walters (Chevin) at 19th. TOUR OF ITALY Time trial record for leader Zulle ALEX who regained the overall lead in the Tour of Italy on Saturday, followed up by hammering his rivals with a record-breaking performance in a 25-mile time trial at Trieste yesterday. The Swiss rider, a time trial expert, extended his overall lead to 2min 2sec over new challenger, Russian Pavel Tonkov, by clocking 44min 38sec to produce fastest time trial in the history of the race.

Ukrainian Sergei Gonchar was second, 53sec behind, with Tonkov third, 1min 22sec off blistering Pasaturday's 102-mile 14th stage to the ski resort of Piancavallo, 1,270 metres high in the Dolomites, saw recapture the leader's pink jersey for the third time in two weeks. He chased home 13sec behind Italian Marco Pantani, who led alone for the final seven miles. It was Pantani's first stage victory in the event for four The race finishes in Milan on Sunday. Details: Sport 12 50m.