LOCH LOMOND, Scotland, 14 July 2003 — Ernie Els completed an ideal buildup for next week’s British Open defense, clinching his second Scottish Open title by five shots yesterday. The world number two, five clear of the field overnight, survived a poor start and a late wobble to fire a closing two-under-par 69 at a sun-drenched Loch Lomond.

Els mixed five birdies with three bogeys to finish at 17-under 267, well ahead of Britain’s Phillip Price and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who tied for second place. Price, winner of last week’s European Open, and Clarke, who played with Els on the last day, also carded matching 69s.

Irishman Gary Murphy, with a closing 67, secured outright fourth at 10-under 274. South African Els, who defends his British Open crown at Royal St. George’s next week, had been in impressive form all week and was expected to coast to victory on the last day. But the 2000 Scottish Open champion, who led the tournament from the start with an opening 64, three-putted from long range at the 455-yard second hole to run up a bogey five, and slip back to 14 under.

A relaxed-looking Clarke, tied for second with Welshman Price after the third round, then birdied the par-five third to cut Els’ lead to three.

However, Clarke missed a birdie chance from 10 feet at the short fifth, where the big South African had to get up and down from a greenside bunker to save his par.

Kenny Perry Takes Lead

at Milwaukee Open

Kenny Perry fired a four-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over six golfers after three rounds of the $3.5 million Milwaukee Open.

Jay Don Blake, the leader after the first two rounds, settled for a 71 and is part of the pack right behind Perry. South African Brenden Pappas, Heath Slocum, Australian Steve Allan, Patrick Sheehan and Jerry Kelly are the others.

“It’s going to take four- or five-under (on Sunday) to win this thing because so many guys are bunched up near the lead,” Perry said.

The 42-year-old Perry is playing in his first tournament since his sensational threestart run that included consecutive wins at the Colonial and Memorial and a tie for third at the US Open. He already has earned $2.9 million this year, nearly $1 million more than the career high he set last year.

Five of the last seven winners of this tournament have been 40 or older, a trend Perry or the 44-year-old Blake would like to continue.The 40-something winners at the Milwaukee Open include Loren Roberts (1996, 2000), Scott Hoch (1997) and Jeff Sluman (1998, 2002).

Roberts shot a 70 on Saturday and is one of six golfers three strokes back at 205.

Daniel, Inkster Tied for

Lead at Canadian Open

In Vancouver, Canada, the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open is shaping up as a battle of Hall of Famers.

Juli Inkster shot a bogey-free 67 on Saturday to tie fellow Hall of Famer Beth Daniel for the lead after three rounds of the $1.3 million tournament at the Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

The 40-somethings handled an 84-minute rain delay and sit atop the leaderboard at 9- under 207. Daniel carded her third straight 69, making three birdies while extending her streak to 30 holes without a bogey. Inkster and Daniel, who have combined for 61 LPGA Tour victories, share a twostroke lead over Kim Saiki after the 37- year-old Las Vegas native shot 69.

South Koreans Se Ri Pak and Grace Park are among five players on 212. The group includes first-round leader Heather Bowie and Scotland’s Janice Moodie, who started the day in second place. Inkster began a run of three straight birdies with a 15-foot putt at the third. She followed an eight-footer with a 20-footer to get to seven-under, then ended a string of eight pars with another 20-footer at No. 15. A four-foot birdie at the final hole gave her a share of the lead.