MALTON and Norton Golf Club's Simon Dyson finished way down the order in the Smurfit European Open won by Ireland's Darren Clarke at Dublin's K Club. Dyson, who made the cut with a fine three-under-69 after his first day 73, then struggled to make an impact with rounds of 75 and 74. His 291 total was 18 shots adrift of winner Clarke.

In front of a 28,000 Irish crowd desperate to see a home winner - their first on the European tour since John O'Leary in 1982 - Clarke came from three behind to triumph by three shots.

A closing 66 laced with seven birdies gave the 32-year-old Ulsterman the massive £333,330 first prize with a 15 under par total of 273.

Padraig Harrington, even more of a local, shared second place with Welshman Ian Woosnam and Dane Thomas Bjorn, both of whom eagled the last - Bjorn from 12 feet to capture a £100,000 diamond on offer to the first player to complete the par fives in 14 under.

Clarke's victory, like Colin Montgomerie's at the Irish Open last week, was his first on the European tour for 13 months. He has also won in South Africa and Japan this season, however.

Runner-up to Montgomerie in Cork after closing with rounds of 65 and 64, the Dungannon golfer has now played his last six rounds in 28 under par.

- England international Richard Finch (Hull) won the Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Alwoodley by beating Nigel Sweet (Moortown) 5 and 4 in the final.

It was the biggest winning margin for 11 years.

Updated: 12:05 Monday, July 09, 2001