Second victory of the season for Clark - 24/03/2007

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GRAEME Clark has become the first golfer to win two PGA EuroPro Tour events this season.

Clark (pictured right) ended on 12-under to triumph by four shots at The Players Club in Bristol for his second victory of the campaign, after also finishing first at Faithlegg, Waterford in May.

After the opening day he was in level third on three-under but he stamped his authority on the 168-man three-day competition with a seven-under round on Wednesday.

That gave him a five-shot advantage going into the final day and he held his nerve with a third round of two-under to claim the £10,000 top prize.

This victory moves him back to the top of the Order of Merit standings and he has now won more than £24,000 this year.

His impressive form means he is now almost certain to be competing in the end of season Tour Championships in October. The top five golfers in the PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit standings after the Tour Championships will move up to the Challenge Tour and be a step closer to playing on the main European Tour.

Elsewhere, Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) has jumped up to tenth in the Order of Merit after finishing second. The competition, which was sponsored by Claytons Kola Tonic, did not start too well for Smith as he was in equal tenth position on Tuesday evening but moved up the leaderboard thanks to efforts of 68 and 69.

Scotland's Jack Doherty finished third, while Welshman Alex Smith, England's Martin Le Mesurier and Ireland's Brendan McCarroll came tied fourth.

Matthew Woods and Colm Moriarty had shared the lead on the opening day and they finished seventh and level eighth respectively.

The next event in the PGA EuroPro Tour season is the Towergate Insurance Championship at Maylands Golf and Country Club in Harold Park, near Romford, Essex.

This will be held from Wednesday, August 1 to Friday, August 3.

Date posted: July 19, 2007