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Brier clinches China Open trophy
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-15 17:58
Austrian Markus Brier shot a birdie on the 18th hole for a final round four-under-par 67 to win the China Open on April 15.

Brier, winner of last year's BA-CA Golf Open in Vienna, fired five birdies against just one bogey on the Shanghai Silport Golf Club's 6,468-meter (7,073-yard) course, taking him to 10-under-par 274.

Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (69), South Africa's Andrew McLardy (70), and Australia's Scott Hend (71) closed in a three-way tie for second at five-under 279.

South Africa's Richard Sterne chipped in for an eagle on the 18th to finish with a one-under 70, a stroke back at 280.

Second-round leader Raphael Jacquelin of France recovered from a nightmare third round to finish tied with Peter O'Malley of Australia, seven strokes off the pace at 281.

Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin (70) finished at two-under-par 282, followed a stroke back by England's David Griffiths (71).

Past winner Stephen Dodd of Wales finished at seven-over-par after shooting a final round of 76, even with Danish Ryder Cup star Thomas Bjorn, who also shot a 76 .

Brier takes home US$333,390 (euro248,000) in prize money out of a total purse of US$2 million (euro1.5 million) in prize money at the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament.