Australian Scott Strange held off a late challenge from Robert Karlsson to win the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Sunday. Strange, 31, had never finished higher than 10th on the European Tour but the Perth-based player defied his world ranking of 164th on the new course built to stage the 2010 Ryder Cup. From the moment he opened with a 63 on Thursday, Strange was the form player and he produced a flawless closing 64, the joint best of the day, to win with a staggering 22 under par total of 262. Karlsson, third in his previous three events, also shot 64 but finished four shots back in second place, while Darren Clarke's 66 lifted him from 14th into a tie for fourth, nine shot off first place. France's Raphael Jacquelin was third on his own and joint fourth with Clarke were English pair Nick Dougherty and Benn Barham, Italian Francesco Molinari and Argentina's Rafa Echenique. Dougherty finished birdie-eagle for a 68 and stays eighth in the Ryder Cup race, while Karlsson strengthens his position at sixth. Colin Montgomerie's closing 72 dropped him to 58th of the 73 who made the cut and means he has still not had a top-40 finish in strokeplay since January. A ninth Ryder Cup cap looks further away than ever. Goggin on fire Mathew Goggin, who is seeking his first win on the US PGA Tour, fired a one-under 71 for a three-shot lead after the third round of the six million dollar Memorial Tournament on Saturday. Heading into Sunday's final round at Muirfield Village, the Aussie was at eight-under 208. Canadian Mike Weir, England's Justin Rose, Kenny Perry, Matt Kuchar and Jerry Kelly were in a five-way tie for second at five-under 211. Goggin compiled a three-stroke lead with two birdies in the first three holes before bad weather stopped play for two hours, 25 minutes. The delay, due to a threat of lightning, appeared to stymie his momentum. He made just one birdie the rest of the day. Goggin kept his mistakes to a minimum, however, making only two bogeys, to end the day in a great position to win the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus. Rose shot a 70 to join the group sharing second, while Kuchar posted a 71, Perry a 74 and Kelly a 73. Gustafson seizes lead In South Carolina, Sophie Gustafson seized sole possession of the lead at the LPGA Ginn Tribute Saturday, firing a five-under 67 that gave her a six-shot cushion. Sweden's Gustafson had five birdies as well as an eagle at the par-five third hole, moving to 18-under 198 through three rounds. She had a comfortable lead over overnight co-leader Karrie Webb, a Hall of Famer from Australia, and rookie Na Yeon Choi. Gustafson, who had been alone in first on Thursday then ended the second round tied with Webb, was able to overcome a double-bogey at the 12th. Webb had two birdies through the first nine holes, but struggled coming home. The 35-time US LPGA Tour winner bogeyed four of the first six holes after the turn before stopping the rot with a birdie at 16. She finished with a 73 for 204, level with Choi who posted a 68. American Jane Park was alone in fourth place after a 67 for 205.
