HUA HIN, Thailand: Europe dominated Sunday's singles matches to produce an unlikely comeback over Asia and defend its Royal Trophy title with an overall 9-7 victory at the Black Mountain Golf Club. Asia needed 2 1/2 points from the eight singles matches to clinch the win but the Europeans held them to just one, winning six of the eight matchups with the other two all square. Asia had led 6-2 going into the final day after sweeping the fourball matches Saturday. Peter Hanson of Sweden gave Europe a good start, fighting back from two down to win nine of the next 10 holes, beating Liang Wen-chong 7 and 6. Rhys Davies of Wales, Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden and European playing captain Colin Montgomerie also picked up wins to leave the series tied at 6 1/2, after Henrik Stenson of Sweden had birdied the last hole to halve his match against Noh Seung-yul of South Korea. Italian 17-year-old Matteo Manassero then put Europe in the lead for the first time by beating Shunsuke Sonoda of Japan 1 up, but it still looked like Jeev Milkha Singh of India and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand might rescue the situation for Asia. Singh was all square with Pablo Martin of Spain after 17 holes while Thongchai was one up over Johan Edfors of Sweden going to the 18th. But a superb approach shot from Martin landed only 18 inches from the pin on the 18th green, and after Singh missed his birdie putt, the Spaniard made an easy tap-in to clinch the victory for Europe. Edfors then won the last hole to halve his match with Thongchai. Oosthuizen wins title British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen won a three-way playoff on the first hole to secure the Africa Open title at the East London Golf Club Sunday. The South African, who finished the tournament with a 16-under 276, sank a 12-footer on the 18th to dash the hopes of England's Chris Wood and Spaniard Manuel Quiros. Charl Schwartzel of South Africa posted a final-round 70 to finish joint third alongside countryman Jaco van Zyl and Steven O'Hara of Scotland on 15-under. Three share lead In Kapalua, Hawaii, Robert Garrigus recovered from an atrocious start Saturday by holing a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to join Steve Stricker and Jonathan Byrd in the lead after three rounds of the Tournament of Champions. Garrigus hit a 4-iron into a hazard to open with double bogey and followed with a bogey to quickly fall out of the lead he held after two rounds. By the end of the third, he was back where he started. The eagle gave Garrigus a 4
