Cevaer clinches European Open

Frenchman Christian Cevaer, languishing in 196th place on the money list, scored a shock triumph at the European Open on Sunday.   

The 39-year-old ended a five-year wait for his second tour victory when a closing two-over-par 74 earned a seven-under total of 281.   

On another sun-baked day at the London Club in Kent, tricky winds again made life difficult for the players and there were only three sub-70 scores.    Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and Britain’s Steve Webster had chances to join Cevaer on 281 but bogeyed the water-lined 18th, one of the most difficult par-fours on the circuit, to finish in a share of second place with Webster’’s countryman Gary Orr.   

“It was tough to lag the putts today, I was short several times and obviously there were some nerves there,” 2004 Spanish Open champion Cevaer said.   

“But at the end of the day I am proud to get the job done,” he added after picking up a first prize of $477,200.    Sharing fifth spot on 283 were Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Britons Stephen Dodd and Chris Wood, the leading amateur at last year’s Birkdale Open.

World number four Sergio Garcia, the highest-ranked player in the field, equalled the best round of the day as a 68 gave him a total of 286.