Michaels wins Philippine Open title by three strokes

AMERICAN Edward Michaels captured the $150,000 Philippine Open title by three strokes yesterday to deny local amateur Juvic Pagunsan his day of glory.

The 27-year-old Michaels, playing in only his second event in Asia, fired a two-under-par 69 in the final round at Riviera Golf and Country Club and triumphed with a four-day total of two-under-par 282.

He picked up the winner's cheque of $24,225 in the Asian Tour event. The Atlanta-based American survived a late mishap on the 15th hole when he picked up a two-stroke penalty for removing loose impediment from a bunker which led to a double bogey six.

But he still prevailed as his closest challengers failed to mount late bids.

Michaels was the only player in the field to shoot under par in what is Asia's oldest national Open.

Pagunsan, 25, was bidding to become only the third amateur player to win the Philippine Open but the joint overnight leader got off to the worst possible start with bogeys on his first two holes and signed for a 74 to take second place.

England's Jonathan Cheetham finished tied third with Australian Adam Groom,

World number one Annika Sorenstam launched her season with a four-shot victory in the $516,000 Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines yesterday.

The 33-year-old Swede, who says she's after this year's Grand Slam of majors, fired rounds of 69-70-65-65 for a 19-under-par total of 269 to claim her third Masters title.

She beat England's Karen Stupples (68-67-70-68), who impressed in her first European Tour event going head-to-head with the game's best player.

"I wanted to get off to a fast start for my own momentum and to let them know I was serious, to make them start pushing," Sorenstam said.

"I was pretty happy with the way I played without any competition for two months."

Sorenstam's said she would cut back her tournament play this year. It's part of her plan to be mentally and physically at her peak for each of the four majors in her quest to be the first woman to win golf's Grand Slam.

The first of those is the Nabisco Championship in California next month. "I'm cutting my tournaments back to the minimum in the US (15) and also Europe (three) this year," said Sorenstam.