ALEXANDER CEJKA ended 19 months without a win when he took the KB Challenge in his native Czech Republic yesterday.

Cejka, now a German, hadn't tasted victory since the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in 1995, but a closing 68 for a 13-under-par 271 gave him a two-shot margin over Italy's Michele Reale and three ahead of Frenchman Marc Pendaries.

Francis Howley got his game back on track with a closing 66. Howley reeled off eight birdies, five on the back nine, for an aggregate of 280. He was left to rue a 76 in the second round: "That second round crucified me," he said. "Curiously, I played better yesterday when I shot a level par, but today I knocked it close and holed the putts.

John McHenry closed with 71 to join Howley on 280. "I didn't play well," he said. "I just couldn't get going at all."