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Darren Clarke Wins BMW Open

Monday, 28th April 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

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Shanghai—In an exciting two-man race to the finish, Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland held off Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen's comeback to win at the BMW Asian Open at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, the second European Tour golf competition held in China this month (along with last week's Volvo China Open in Beijing).

Clarke took a two-stroke lead over Derksen after the 14th hole, but proceeded to bogey 16 and 17 to head to the 18th in a tie with Derksen. Clarke then birdied 18 for the win and the US$383,330 purse, with a final 8-under-par 280 over four rounds.

"Sometimes things are meant to happen, sometimes not. I guess today was my day," said Clarke. "I was thinking of getting it to the hole (on the 18th) and I wasn't going to lag it up. I putted nicely this week, and wanted to give myself a chance on the last and I hit a solid putt. It was tracking six foot out and sometimes it's meant to go in."

At 5 under par, Li Wen-Tang from Taiwan finished in a three-way tie for third place with Italy's Francesco Molinari and Englishman Robert Dinwiddie. China's top player, Liang Wenchong, finished 14th at even par.

The tournament is part of a China marketing strategy for BMW that has the goal of double-digit sales growth in the Middle Kingdom this year, according to this report in Forbes magazine. It is also part of a broader sports marketing strategy for the automaker, which this month put on the BMW Formula Europe Formula 1 racing event and the BMW Sailing Cup.

In the photo with Clarke are flight attendants from Dubai–based Emirates Airline, another major sponsor of the event.

Tags: BMW China Open, golf, Li Wen-Tang, Liang Wenchong, Shanghai Tomson Pudong Golf Club