Golf: Clarke hangs on to fend off Bickerton

CONVERTING A five-stroke lead with 18 holes to play into a victory is not as straightforward as it appears. Darren Clarke did not need to hear the words of Colin Montgomerie, one of six players tied for second place, to know that. "Someone on 11 under," Monty declared, "will have a good day."

For once, it was not the Scot. Instead, John Bickerton emerged as Clarke's closest challenger for the Compass English Open title and, by the time a thunderstorm rolled over Thundridge, the Irishman's lead had been cut to two. Ninety minutes later, when play resumed, Bickerton birdied the 12th to move within one.

Bickerton, a 29-year-old from Droitwich, has yet to win on the European tour, his best opportunity coming earlier this year when he lost a play- off to Van Phillips in the Portuguese Open. At the second extra hole, Bickerton fluffed a chip into a bunker.

Here his one moment of weakness came at the 13th, where he duffed a chip. His failure to make the green cost a bogey and Clarke was two ahead again. It was the only blemish in a final round of 65 for Bickerton, which included a strong finish with birdies at two of the last four holes.

At 18 under, Bickerton secured second place, by four from David Carter and Stephen Leaney. Montgomerie, for whom the putts did not drop, was one further back in fifth.

But Clarke's 68 gave him a two-stroke victory at 20 under. Birdies at the 12th and 15th were important, but so was his par at the 13th. Having driven into a ditch, he elected to play the ball instead of taking a penalty drop. His risk was rewarded with a fine recovery, on the "hit and hope" principle and he went on to pitch and putt for a four.

This was his first win since he ended last season by winning the Volvo Masters to finish second on the order of merit behind Montgomerie. A poor start to the season followed a two-month break during the winter but he is now back in top form.

"Things weren't going that well earlier in the year and it was a tough time," Clarke said. "I wasn't the best company in the world, I'd imagine, but it is nice to turn it around."

Clarke sought help from Butch Harmon, coach of Tiger Woods, and the hard work has paid off. "I have been talking regularly to Butch and he has helped straighten out a lot of things.

"I have not been in the situation of having a five-stroke lead before and I had it all to lose. John kept getting closer and closer and I was hoping he would make a bogey but a 65 is a tremendous effort."

On Saturday, Clarke birdied the last five holes for the second day running. Yesterday, he drove into a greenside bunker at the short par-four first and then holed from the sand for an eagle-two. That put him seven under for his last six holes and left him holding a six-stroke lead.

When he birdied the third, Clarke was seven ahead. Such a lead does not always guarantee victory. Ernie Els was seven in front with 12 to play and lost to Jarrod Moseley in the Heineken Classic. Clarke bogeyed the fifth, but that was his only dropped shot of the round. But pars to the turn meant he lost ground to Bickerton's four birdies in a row from seventh.

Bickerton could see lightning in the distance while playing the 12th and for a man who has twice been hit - within three weeks 10 years ago - it was not a good sight. "I don't want to be here," he thought. Fortunately play was quickly suspended and he later returned to earn a cheque for pounds 79,357, comfortably the biggest of his career.

"With a child on the way, that's great," Bickerton said. "I am over the moon with a 65. I thought I might put some pressure on Darren but he handled it well.

"The duffed chip was one of those dreaded ones where the grass was lying against the line and you have to take the ball first. I quit on it. I got nervous and had to gather my thoughts but it was nice to play well under pressure to finish."

FINAL SCORES

268 D Clarke 68 65 67 68 (pounds 119,043).

270 J Bickerton 64 73 68 65 (pounds 79,357).

274 D Carter 67 71 67 69; S Leaney (Aus) 68 70 67 69 (pounds 40,214 each).

275 C Montgomerie 70 70 65 70; A Coltart 68 73 64 70 (pounds 27,643 each).

276 M Roe 71 72 68 65; O Karlsson (Swe) 67 72 70 67; D Robertson 69 70 70 67; F Lindgren (Swe) 71 71 67 67; P Senior (Aus) 69 68 69 70; G Orr 68 71 66 71.

277 E Canonica (It) 71 67 70 69; R Karlsson (Swe) 71 72 63 71.

278 J Senden (Aus) 69 72 69 68; T Gogele (Ger) 67 69 70 72.

279 Zhang Lian-wei (China) 70 71 71 67; P Lawrie 69 70 71 69; P Broadhurst 69 73 67 70; J Singh (India) 68 73 67 71; P Mitchell 68 69 70 72; C Rocca (It) 69 69 68 73.

280 P Curry 68 71 72 69; G Ogilvy (Aus) 64 71 72 73.

281 W Westner (SA) 70 73 69 69; P Lonard (Aus) 75 67 68 71; I Garbutt 70 72 67 72.

282 R Coles 70 70 73 69; P Linhart (Sp) 72 70 70 70; S Torrance 67 73 71 71; S Gallacher 72 71 68 71; R Goosen (SA) 70 71 68 73.

283 M Hallberg (Swe) 71 72 72 68; M McNulty (Zim) 67 77 71 68; A Raitt 70 70 72 71; J Spence 69 73 69 72; B May (US) 72 68 69 74; G Emerson 72 71 66 74.

284 M Campbell (NZ) 70 72 74 68; I Garrido (Sp) 69 74 71 70; M Lanner (Swe) 70 72 71 71; D Chopra (Swe) 71 70 72 71; T Levet (Fr) 71 71 71 71; A Hansen (Den) 73 71 69 71; J Payne 74 67 71 72; S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 69 70 72; M James 71 72 69 72; R Winchester 68 70 72 74; M Tunnicliff 71 71 68 74; A Binaghi (It) 70 68 69 77.

285 N Faldo 70 74 73 68; J Van de Velde (Fr) 70 73 71 71; G Evans 72 71 70 72.

286 R Wessels (SA) 72 71 72 71; M Farry (Fr) 72 72 71 71; M Mackenzie 72 72 70 72; C Cevaer (Fr) 72 72 70 72; M Gronberg (Swe) 66 74 73 73.

287 A Wall 73 70 74 70; R McFarlane 73 69 73 72; P Eales 70 69 73 75.

288 E Darcy 72 72 72 72; T Gillis (US) 68 75 71 74.

289 C Hanell (Swe) 73 71 73 72; R Jacquelin (Fr) 70 72 73 74; A Forsbrand (Swe) 69 72 74 74; J Haeggman (Swe) 75 69 70 75; S Dodd 70 70 73 76.

290 M Florioli (It) 70 73 72 75; S Webster 69 72 73 76; A Bonhomme (Aus) 70 73 70 77.

293 S Cage 74 70 75 74.

297 F Cea (Sp) 71 71 81 74; C Rodiles (Sp) 75 69 72 81.

299 J Robinson 70 73 81 75.