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Clark captures the Scottish Open
LOCH LOMOND, Scotland -- South African Tim Clark holed a 20-foot birdie putt at the last to clinch his third European Tour title by two shots at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. The 29-year-old from Durban fired a four-under-par 67 to hold off the challenge of Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Britain's Darren Clarke, finishing on 19-under 265. Lafeber, chasing his second European Tour title after the 2003 Dutch Open, returned a 69 for a share of second place with Ryder Cup player Clarke, who shot a 66. Lafeber was rewarded with place at next week's British Open, by finishing as the highest non-exempt player at Loch Lomond. Britain's Ian Poulter fired a best-of-the-day 65 to secure fourth place at 16 under after charging up the leaderboard with seven birdies and a solitary bogey at the par-four 16th. "I played lovely all day and had eight under in mind from the very start," Poulter said. "I had so many chances, took a few and left a few out there. All in all, though, it's a good week." World number three Ernie Els, who had been bidding for an unprecedented third Scottish Open crown, had to settle for 11th after closing with a 68. On a fourth successive day of good scoring in benign conditions at Loch Lomond, the lead changed hands several times. Clark and Lafeber, joint pacesetters overnight, collected two birdies in the first three holes but were briefly caught in a tie for the lead by Argentine Angel Cabrera, who chipped in for his third birdie of the day at the par-four fourth. Fell backCabrera, however, fell back with dropped shots on seven, eight and 11 and Clark broke clear of the clear after hitting his approach to just four feet for a birdie at the par-three eighth. Having reached the turn in three-under 33, Clark slipped back into a share of the lead at 17 under after three-putting at the 235-yard 11th. Level with the South African were Lafeber, who almost chipped in for birdie at the same hole, and Northern Irishman Clarke, after picking up his seventh shot of the day at the par-five 13th. Lafeber claimed the outright lead with a birdie on 12 before being caught by Clark at the next hole. Despite pushing his tee shot at the par-five 13th into a fairway bunker, the South African holed a 10-foot birdie putt to get back to 18 under and regained the outright lead when Lafeber missed an eight-footer for par on 15. Clark, whose first two European Tour titles came at the South African Open in 2002 and again in January, never relinquished his advantage after that. 
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