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Brier wins in Shanghai

15/04/2007

Austrian Markus Brier has won the China Open by five shots from Scott Hend, Andrew McLardy and Graeme McDowell after a final round of 67.

Brier claimed only the second European tour title of his career after a strong final round in which he made five birdies and just one bogey while his challengers trailed in his wake.

Having made four birdies on the front nine the rest of the field were out of contention when the leader turned for home allowing him to play conservatively on the back nine to ensure the win.

The Austrian won his home Open event last year and said that the victory in China was a step forward for him in his career.

He said: "You always think you can win at home because you know the conditions and it's comfortable, but this is a big step for me to prove that I can also win abroad."

Australian Hend had been best placed to fight Brier for the title but he could only manage a round of level-par, salvaging a share of second place with a birdie at the final hole.

Northern Irishman McDowell had been a steady scorer all week and managed to move up the leaderboard a few more places with a round of two-under on day four, which meant he finished level with Hend.

McLardy bogeyed the first hole for the fourth consecutive day but could not rally as he had done in previous rounds finishing with a score of 70 to equal Hend and McDowell for the tournament.

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