LOCH LOMOND, Scotland, 12 July 2004 — Frenchman Thomas Levet fired a closing 63 to come from seven strokes behind to win the Scottish Open by a shot on Sunday.
Levet, the third French winner in the last four European Tour events, finished on 15-under-par 269 to pip New Zealand’s Michael Campbell.
World number two Ernie Els, who beat Levet in a sudden-death shootout for the 2002 British Open title, made a brave defense of his Loch Lomond crown. The South African, who closed with a 68, finished tied third with Briton David Howell, two strokes behind the winner.
Levet’s eight-under round, one off the course record, also sealed a British Open spot next week at Royal Troon.
An exhilarating back nine, which he covered in six-under-par 29 by running in an eagle and four birdies, helped Levet better the European Tour catch-up record for the season by a stroke as he went past struggling overnight joint leaders Marcus Fraser of Australia and Frenchman Gregory Havret.
Els said his strong finish to the week had put him in an upbeat mood before the British Open.
Havret and Fraser, both also looking to seal the one British Open spot left for the highest non-qualified finisher, lost their way on the back nine.Fraser three-putted the last for bogey to finish tied fifth on 272 while Havret was a further stroke back. Another good finish by Lee Westwood, who tied for 10th, took the Briton to the brink of a Ryder Cup place.
Coceres Opens Two Shot Lead at John Deere Classic
In Silvis, Illinois, Jose Coceres ended a long Saturday where he started it — atop the leaderboard at the TPC at Deere Run.
Coceres completed his second round early Saturday morning, then shot a 3-under-par 68 to move two strokes ahead of Greg Chalmers at the $3.8 million PGA John Deere Classic.
A 40-year-old from Argentina, Coceres is trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner on the PGA Tour this season. He had a comfortable five-shot lead after 13 holes, but his fortunes changed at the 17th hole. While Coceres parred, Chalmers made birdie to get within four strokes. At the par-4 18th hole, Chalmers knocked a 5-iron within two feet to set up another birdie while Coceres three-putted. That swing halved Coceres’ lead and left nine players within four shots of the lead.
Mallon Seizes Four-Shot Lead at Canadian Women’s Open
In Niagara Falls, Ontario, Meg Mallon, bidding for a second straight win in as many weeks, carded a 7-under-par 65 Saturday to increase her lead after the third round of the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open.
The 41-year-old Mallon completed 54 holes at 16-under 200, four shots ahead of Hall of Famer Beth Daniel, who signed for a 67. Mallon also shot 65 on Thursday and has led after all three rounds. Mallon claimed her fourth career major title and second US Women’s Open last week in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was her 16th win in 18 years on the LPGA Tour.
Canadian Dawn Coe-Jones continued to play well, posting a 69 — her third straight round in the 60s — that left her tied for third with Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa.
