BEIJING, 20 March 2006 — Sweden’s Johan Edfors shot a 68 in the final round of the $1 million TCL Classic yesterday to register his breakthrough win on the European Tour.
The 30-year-old finished top of the leaderboard with a combined 25 under par after four rounds of the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event played at Yalong Bay Golf Club on Hainan Island.
Australia’s Andrew Buckle had a makeable putt on the last for birdie to take Edfors to a playoff but it drifted right of the cup.
Buckle finished in second, a stroke ahead of Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who shot a 65.
Pampling Surges Clear, Woods Struggles
Australia’s Rod Pampling climbed into the lead after the third round the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando on Saturday, after a steady five-under 67 while four-times winner Tiger Woods slipped out of contention.
Pampling, who began the day one shot behind overnight leader Lucas Glover, mixed six birdies with a single bogey to finish with a three-day total of 14-under 202 and a four-shot cushion over Glover and Britons Darren Clarke and Greg Owen going into Sunday’s final round.
Clarke carded the round of day, firing a sizzling nine-under 63 to rocket into contention to join Owen and Glover at 10-under 206.
Owen mixed seven birdies with a pair of bogeys on his way to a five-under 67 while Glover settled for an even par 72 after opening with back-to-back 67s.
Woods has failed to display the form, laboring to a one-under 71 for the second consecutive day. It marked the third consecutive round the world No. 1 has failed to break 70 on one of his favorite courses.
Lee Maintains Lead Heading Into Final Round
In Phoenix, Arizona, Sarah Lee fired a two-under-par 70 and has a one-stroke lead over Aree Song heading into Sunday’s final round of the $1.4 million LPGA Safeway International.
After Lee finished her round with a par, Song drained a six-footer for eagle on 18 at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club’s Prospector Course.
