GOLF DIGEST: CHALLENGE TOUR: A wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural Qingdao Golf Open - the first of his European Challenge Tour career - provided Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin with the perfect present on his 28th birthday.
Maybin never looked back after compiling a stunning round of 62 on the opening day in Qingdao, China, and closed with a four-under 68 to finish on 19 under par, six shots clear of his nearest rivals.
The Ulsterman's mastery of the course at Qingdao Huashan Golf Resort was such that he dropped only two shots over the four rounds, and birdied every hole except the par three second and 17th.
More importantly, the €56,049 Maybin collected moved him to the top of the Challenge Tour rankings and guaranteed him full playing privileges on next year's main European Tour.
"What a birthday - I'll remember this one for a while," he said. "From tee to green I played as well as I've ever played this week. My concentration and mental strength were also spot on. I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn't really allow myself to think about winning until the 18th tee.
"I'm so delighted to have shot 19 under par, and ecstatic to have this trophy on my lap. The winner's cheque will also come in handy, because I recently bought my first house in Belfast.
"But the most important thing is that I've guaranteed my European Tour card for next season, and I'm just itching to get out there now. You want to test yourself against the best in whatever sport you play.
"Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke have also won in China this year, so it's obviously a happy hunting ground for the Irish.
"I'm sure I'll have a few beers later, but the real celebrations will have to wait until after Kazakhstan next week."
EUROPEAN SENIORS: England's Nick Job survived a late challenge from close friend and adversary Carl Mason to win his first tournament of the year by capturing the PGA International Seniors at Stoke by Nayland.
The 59-year-old, who was co-leader after day one and outright leader by three shots going into the final round, secured his first wire-to-wire victory with a 69 over the Gainsborough Course to finish on 14-under 202, two clear of Mason.
Mason had closed to within one shot going to the last, but a birdie from Job sealed the win.
LET: England's Laura Davies successfully defended her Austrian title at Golf Club Fohrenwald in Wiener Neustadt.
Davies, who began the final round tied for the lead with Swede Emma Zackrisson, shot a four-under-par 68 in cold conditions to finish on 15-under-par 273, three strokes ahead of compatriot Lisa Hall.
