Els holds off bold Mickelson challenge

Ernie Els held off a strong challenge from Phil Mickelson to win The International in Colorado.

The South African saw his eight-point lead halved on the final day but held his nerve to claim the tournament which uses a Modified Stableford scoring system - which rewards eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle and two for a birdie, with one point deducted for a bogey and three for anything worse.

Els picked up eight points in the fourth round to finish on 48 while Mickelson's 12-point haul could only move him to within four of the winner.

Stuart Appleby was third on 41 after adding 11 points to his tally while Greg Norman, in his comeback event after a hip injury, picked up six points to claim fourth on 38.

England's Trish Johnson shot a final round four-under-par 68 yesterday to come from five behind overnight and score a home win in the £100,000 British Masters at Mottram Hall. While Johnson made her move with four birdies in the first six holes and went on to win by two from Norway's Vibeke Stensrud, the round will also be remembered for the spectacular collapse of Sofia Gronberg Whitmore.

The Warwickshire-based Swede had started the day four ahead, but had three double bogeys in a 78 and had to settle for a share of third place with Alison Nicholas and Kathryn Marshall. Ireland's Aideen Rogers, after a promising opening two rounds, slipped back to joint seventh place after a 76.

Irish competitors Alison Coffey and Suzanne O'Brien had reason to be disappointed with their overall performances in the European Women's Amateur Championship on the Amber Baltic course in Poland.

Coffey promised so much for so long but faded towards the end of the 72-hole contest and finished in joint 22nd place

And for O'Brien it was even more disappointing, , as she has enjoyed a marvellous season, but the wheels came off in Poland and she finished joint 56th.

Coffey had rounds of 71, 72 , 76 and 75 for a 72 hole total of 294, 11 off the pace while O'Brien got progressively worse as the week went on, making 72, 76, 77 and 81.

But there was cheer for the Britain and Ireland camp as English champion, Emma Duggleby took the title after a three hole play-off with Spanish ace, Tania Elosegui.