Bateman snatches Buick Open

US TOUR: American Brian Bateman birdied the final hole to snatch a one-shot win in the Buick Open at at Warwick Hills G&CC, Michigan yesterday.

Bateman, with a final total of 15-under-par 273, won by one shot from Jason Gore, Justin Leonard and Woody Austin.

Steve Elkington, John Rollins, Marco Dawson, Jim Furyk and Scott Verplank shared fifth place.

Darren Clarke finished on six-under-par 282 after a final round of 71.

WOMEN'S US OPEN: American Cristie Kerr won the US Women's Open at Pine Needles, North Carolina yesterday when a final round of 70 gave her a two-shots win over leading money winner Lorena Ochoa from Mexico and Brizil's Angela Park.

Kerr finished on five-under-par 279 with Ochoa and Park on 281 after rounds of 71 and 70 respectively.

Se Ri Pak from Korea and American In-Bee Park shared fourth place on two-under-par 282.

LET: France's Sophie Giquel collected her first Ladies European Tour victory with a strong finish at the Open de Portugal on the Algarve.

After entering the final round tied with fellow Frenchwoman Jade Schaeffer, Swede Louise Stahle and Australian Joanne Mills at seven-under-par, the 24-year-old from Lyon shot a three-under 69 in strong winds to win by two strokes on 10-under-par 206.

The win was worth €30,000, a three-year exemption to the Tour and a place in the Evian Masters.

It also took her up six places to sixth on the money list and she earned 40 Solheim Cup points, taking her to fourth place on the European team standings, inside the top five places that will earn automatic qualification for the team that faces the Americans in September.

Stahle, the leading Tour rookie who was also looking for her first win, shot a final round 71 to settle for second place, her career best finish.

Schaeffer, a fellow rookie, carded 74 and celebrated her 21st birthday by finishing in outright third position on five-under-par.

Mills managed a 76 and tied for fourth with Swede Johanna Westerberg on three-under at the Gramacho Pestana Golf Resort near Carvoeiro.

Ireland's Rebecca Coakley closed with a 72 to share 30th place on five over. That was worth €1,800.

Martina Gillen was a shot further back after a 73 and collected €1,275.

Giquel had four birdies and one bogey in her final round, with three birdies in her last seven holes, where the wind was at its strongest. She shared a three-way tie for the lead on seven-under at the turn, but was two behind after Stahle birdied the 10th and 11th.

Both players birdied the par-five 12th, but Giquel was able to take advantage of Stahle's mistakes at the 13th and 16th to draw level with the Swede.

She gained the outright lead with a birdie at the next, rolling in a 36 foot downhill putt and then birdied the par-five last to seal the victory.

CHALLENGE TOUR: England's Ross McGowan captured his second title of the season after a final round of 66 secured a three-stroke victory in the Estoril Challenge de Portugal.

The 25-year-old, who won the Oceanico Developments Pro-Am Challenge a month ago, finished at 12-under-par 272 and three strokes clear of Welshman Stuart Manley, who closed with a 68.

England's Robert Coles was a further stroke back at eight under par after also shooting a 68 with another Welshman, Jamie Donaldson, in fourth place on seven under after a 72.

Overnight leader Peter Baker finished in joint fifth place.