ST-OMER, France, 21 June 2004 — Frenchman Philippe Lima clinched the Aa St-Omer Open yesterday by a stroke to earn himself an 18-month exemption on the main tour.
Lima shot the best score of another windy day, a five-under-par 66 which was also the joint-best return of the week, to come from three shots off the lead overnight and head the field on five-under-par 279.
Italy’s Allessandro Tadini was tied with Lima coming to the 18th but three-putted the final green to deny himself the chance of a playoff. He had to settle for second place with a closing 69.
Goosen Leads by Two at Brutal Shinnecock
In Southampton, New York, South Africa’s Retief Goosen birdied the opening hole to forge three clear in the US Open final round yesterday as his challengers struggled in brutal conditions at Shinnecock Hills.
Goosen, winner in 2001 at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahama, split the fairway off the tee, hit his approach to 28 feet and rolled in the putt to move to six under for the tournament.
However the 35-year-old slipped back with a bogey-four at the second after finding the front right bunker off the tee. He parred the 478-yard third to stay three shots ahead.
Moments later, though, US Masters champion Phil Mickelson sank a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-four fourth to close the gap to two, and secure outright second place at three under.
Twice winner Ernie Els, in the final pair with Goosen, was a further shot back in third with American Jeff Maggert fourth at one under after five holes.
