Clark clinches Open

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 at a sun-drenched Loch Lomond.

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 had cause to celebrate more than just a runner-up spot, though, by booking his place at next week's British Open by finishing as the highest non-exempt player at Loch Lomond.

Clark, whose first two European Tour wins came at the South African Open in 2002 and again in January, was delighted to claim his first big title on foreign soil.

"It's always nice to win your national Open but, with the quality of the field here, this is a much bigger victory," said Clark, who plays most of his golf on the U.S. PGA Tour.

"It was always going to be a tough day out there knowing you had to shoot a good score to win in these conditions.

"Maarten played great golf but was unfortunate with some of his putts."

Lafeber, who missed relatively short putts for birdie on five, nine and 13, was delighted to have qualified for his third British Open.

"It's great to be in the Open," said the 30-year-old from Eindhoven. "I played my first one at St Andrews in 2000 and missed the cut but I feel I am a much mature player now than I was then.

"Today was disappointing, though. I missed too many birdie chances and that stopped me."

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," said the 29-year-old Poulter.

"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 by Argentine Angel Cabrera, who chipped in for his third birdie of the day at the par-four fourth.

Cabrera, however, fell back with dropped shots on seven, eight and 11 on his way to a 70 and a tie for fifth at 15 under.

Clark broke clear after hitting his wedge approach to just four feet for a birdie at the par-three eighth but slipped back into a tie for the lead 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.

Although Lafeber claimed the outright lead with a birdie on 12, Clark drew level with an unlikely birdie at the next hole, where he hit a six-iron from a fairway bunker to just 10 feet and made the putt.

"I could have found myself two shots back right there but, with Maarten missing his birdie attempt from six feet, we tied it up," said Clark.

When Lafeber missed an eight-footer for par on 15, Clark was back out on his own - a lead which he never relinquished.