Byrd's late charge is rewarded

USPGA TOUR: Jonathan Byrd, who has missed eight cuts and whose best finish was tied ninth at the AT&T Classic, came from behind to win the John Deere Classic at the Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois, yesterday.

Three birdies in four holes in a back nine of 32 helped Byrd to a closing 66 and a one-shot victory over South African Tim Clark.

Byrd finished on 18-under-par 266, with Clark, who dropped two shots in the last four holes, on 267.

Troy Matteson and Nathan Green shared third place on 269.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: RW Eaks, who had an hole-in-one at the seventh, in a second round of 10-under-par 62 shot a final round of 66 win win the Dick's Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie GC Endicott, New York .

Eaks final total of 199 gave him a three-shots winning margin over Bruce Vaughan with Lonnie Nelson back on 206 .

Des Smyth was three over par after eight holes of the final round but shot five birdies over the next 10 holes for a final round of 70 and a closing total of two-under-par 215.

SENIORS TOUR: As the Tour de France was nearing the completion of its first Alpine stage, the European Seniors Tour crowned its own king of the mountains as Juan Quiros captured the Open de France Senior Divonne golf title from England's Tony Allen in nearby Divonne les Baines on Saturday.

Quiros closed with a 70 for a 54 hole aggregate of eight-under-par 208, while a charging Allen finished with four threes for a 68 to snatch his second runner-up spot of the season. Tony Johnstone, one of three overnight leaders, shot 73 for a share of third place.

AMATEUR WOMEN: Ireland concluded a week of mixed results by going down in a fiercely-contested battle to France in the European Ladies Team Championship in Milan.

It was so very close with the match only being decided when Carlow's Irish champion Karen Delaney lost at the 19th to Elena Giraud after a terrific struggle leaving Ireland in 10th place in the European rankings.

Spain won the title for the third year in succession with a comfortable 5½-1½ win over Sweden while England took the bronze medal.

BOYS/GIRLS: Ireland also finished 10th in the European Boys team championship in Denmark after losing 3½-1½ to Germany in their final match while they came 12th in the European girls team championship in Oslo.