Weekley lets victory slip

USPGA TOUR:American Boo Weekley birdied the 17th but bogeyed the last to end up in a four-way play-off in the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens yesterday.

Weekley's final round of 70 gave him a four-round total of five-under-par 275 to tie with Camilo Villegas of Colombia, Jose Coceras of Argentina and overnight leader Mark Wilson.

Wilson, who has made 10 consecutive trips to qualifying school since joining the Tour in 1997, began the day with a one-shot cushion and maintained his advantage through nine-holes.

Coceras, who started with five birdies set the early clubhouse target of 275 after a final round of 66.

A disastrous front nine of four-over-par 39, that included three bogeys, a triple bogey and an eagle, left Padraig Harrington well of the pace at one over par.

The Dubliner improved on the run home with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 17th for a one-over-par 71 and a level-par total of 280.

SENIORS TOUR:England's Gordon J Brand started the new European Seniors Tour season in exactly the same manner as he finished the last - as a winner, after a third round of six under par 66 saw him storm through to capture the DGM Barbados Open title by a stroke from Doug Johnson of the United States.

Brand was crowned as the last champion of 2006 after staging a final day comeback in Bahrain, and at Royal Westmoreland it was a similar story as the former Ryder Cup player entered his name on the schedule as the first winner of 2007.

A closing 66 produced a winning 54 hole aggregate of eight under par 208, one better than a charging Johnson, who finished with three birdies in the closing five holes for a fine round of 67. Overnight leader Giuseppe Cali of Italy finished in third place on six under par 210.

Brand's winning stretch had started back in October last year when he captured his maiden Seniors Tour title in Spain and two events later he was on top again, making up a five shot deficit before beating Adan Sowa in at the Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship in Bahrain.

"It's amazing to win again and to be honest I hadn't expected it, " said Brand, who can point to seven wins in Africa as further evidence of this point.

"I had not played much golf before coming here and I wasn't feeling too positive after my opening scores of 72 and 70, but then someone pointed out that I was in fourth place."

Fourth spot was shared by England's Bob Cameron and Spain's José Rivero, the 2006 winner, who closed with respective rounds of 73 and 70 to finish on three under par 213.

A shot further back was Seniors Tour debutant Ross Drummond of Scotland, Ian Mosey of England and Juan Quiros of Spain.

Jimmy Hegarty was best of the Irish pair finishing on 220 after a final round of 74 while Denis O'Sullivan was two-shots back on 222 after rounds of 70, 75 and 77.