Date: February 11, 2007
Author: Sportal

Bransdon 11th in Malaysia

Australia&aposs David Bransdon has finished in a share for 11th in the Malaysian Open, five shots behind winner Peter Hedblom of Sweden. Bransdon started three shots off the lead, but never really got going in his final round at the Saujana Golf & Country Club. He signed for a final-round of 73, to finish his week on three-under par, but it was never going to worry Hedblom, who grabbed the winner&aposs cheque with a final round of 68. The Swede, who started the day in sixth, went out in two-under after three birdies and a bogey, while further gained shots at 13, 16 and 17 gave him a two-shot buffer heading to the last. He bogeyed the 18th to finish at eight-under, but had enough to spare to take his first European title since 1996. France&aposs Jean-Francois Lucquin powered up the leaderboard with a final-round 67 moving him to second on seven-under. Ignacio Garrido (69) and Simon Dyson (70) snared a share of third with consistent final rounds, while English pair Gary Lockerbie (70) and joint overnight leader Marcus Higley (74) finished on five-under. Simon Yates (72), Prom Meeswat (73), Chinarat Phadungsil (70) and Mikko Ilonen (71) shared seventh on four-under. A round in the 60s would have put Bransdon among the leaders, but two bogeys on the front nine put paid to that thought. He then had two birdies and a bogey on the way home to share 11th with four others. Gavin Flint was the next best Australian, a shot back in a share of 16th, after a 72, while Gary Simpson also had a 72 to end his week on even-par. Four Aussies, Marcus Both, Matthew Millar, Unho Park and Terry Pilkadaris, were part of the contingent on one-over par in equal 34th. Adam Groom and Kane Webber were four-over to finish in a share of 49th. Final Scores in the Malaysian Open -8: Peter Hedblom (Swe) 73 71 68 68 -7: Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 72 68 74 67 -6: Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 76 69 68 69, Simon Dyson (Eng) 71 68 73 70 -5: Gary Lockerbie (Eng) 72 71 70 70, Marcus Higley (Eng) 72 67 70 74 -4: Prom Meesawat (Tha) 72 69 70 73, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 69 70 74 71, Simon Yates (Eng) 73 69 70 72, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 70 67 77 70 -3: Amandeep Johl (Ind) 73 71 71 70, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 69 71 69 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 70 73 68 74, David Bransdon (Aus) 70 72 70 73, Graeme Storm (Eng) 72 72 69 72 Others: -2: Gavin Flint (Aus) 71 71 72 72 E: Gary Simpson (Aus) 71 72 73 72 +1: Marcus Both (Aus) 71 72 73 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 74 72 71 72, Unho Park (Aus) 75 71 73 70, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 72 74 68 75 +4: Kane Webber (Aus) 68 73 77 74, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 71 75 73