STRAFFAN, Ireland, 10 July 2006 — Britain’s Stephen Dodd recorded his third European Tour success and his first of the season when he took the European Open by two strokes yesterday.

Welshman Dodd, 39, birdied two of the last three holes in the final round, to shoot a two-under-par 70 in high winds at the K Club, totaling nine-under 279.

He finished ahead of the overnight leader Jose Manuel Lara of Spain and another Briton, Anthony Wall.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley boosted his Ryder Cup hopes by birdieing three of the last four holes to shoot a 69 and finish a further stroke back, with Britons Lee Westwood, Simon Khan and Graeme Storm and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh. Even though Dodd, like most, dropped early shots in the blustery conditions, he stayed well in contention and two birdies in three holes around the turn kept him on Lara’s shoulder.

Then his closing birdie burst, including a mammoth 50ft putt on 17, earned Dodd the $740,000 first prize.

Lara, looking for his maiden title after three-second places, clung on to his overnight lead until the 13th hole where he drove into the hazard and bogeyed.

Another dropped shot at 14 took the Spaniard two behind but Lara then regrouped with birdies on 16 and 17 for a 74 to at least claim his fourth career second place.

Wall holed a 40-footer on the last to shoot 73 and grab a share of second spot.

Inkster to Meet Fellow American Lincicome in Final

In Gladstone, New Jersey, veteran Juli Inkster will meet Brittany Lincicome in an all-American final at the women’s World Match Play Championship later.

In contrasting semifinals, Inkster, 46, steamrollered 19-year-old Paula Creamer by 5 and 4.

Lincicome, who had beaten the 16-year-old second seed Michelle Wie in the quarterfinals, continued her giant-killing act by sneaking home a 25-foot birdie putt for a 19th hole victory over the third-seeded Mexican Lorena Ochoa.

Inkster, the conqueror of Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam in the quarterfinals, was in outstanding form against Creamer. The par four first was halved in birdies but the seven-time major winner then produced three more at the sixth, seventh and ninth to reach the turn in 32 and three up.

Another birdie from close range at the 10th put her four up and in easy street. The match ended in fitting style with Inkster making a birdie at the long 14th and she was an impressive six under par for the 14 holes.

Semfinals (US unless stated) Juli Inkster beat Paula Creamer 5 and 4 Brittany Lincicome beat Lorena Ochoa (Mexico) at first extra hole.