TOUR QUALIFYING: Two Irish players, Eamonn Brady and John Kelly, successfully negotiated a route through the Pre-Qualifying Stage Two at Costa Ballena Golf Club in Spain on Saturday to earn their places in this week's final qualifying school at San Roque, a 108-hole marathon that offers full cards on next season's PGA European Tour.
Brady, a former winner on the Canadian Tour, had a final round 73 for 281, seven under, to finish in tied-14th, while Kelly, a club professional based at St Margaret's, finished with a 70 for 282, leaving him in tied-20th.
Brady and Kelly will join compatriots Colm Moriarty, Philip Walton and Stephen Browne at tour school. Browne already has a card for next season, won on the Challenge Tour, but is returning to tour school (where players must play six rounds) in an effort to improve his status.
At the PQ-II at Costa Ballena, play-offs were required to determine the final tickets to San Roque. Argentina's Sergio Acevedo, Germany's Nicholas Mettinger and James H Williams of Wales survived extra holes to knock Jimmy Kawalec of Sweden, Scotsman Lee Rhind and Frenchman Anthony Grenier in to second, fifth and eighth alternate positions after the six had completed the 72-holes qualifying in 283, five under.
Scotland's Andrew McArthur finished on top of the pile at Costa Ballena, finishing the week with a three-stroke advantage after posting a four round total of 16-under-par 272.
WOMEN'S TOUR: World number one Annika Sorenstam became the first golfer to win a USPGA or LPGA tournament five years running with victory at the Mizuno Classic on Sunday.
The Swede began the final round a shot off the pace but produced a superb eight-under-par 64 in the rain to finish on 21-under 195 at the three-round event in Otsu, western Japan.
Sorenstam matched the four wins of Briton Laura Davies at the Standard Register Ping tournament from 1994 to 1997 when she won last year's Mizuno Classic for the fourth time in a row.
Only Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen and Tiger Woods have won the same tournament four straight times on the PGA Tour.
"This is one of greatest things I've done in my career," Sorenstam said. "I felt pressure all week but I tried to stay aggressive. Obviously I feel great."
Sorenstam (35) won a record fifth World Championship at Palm Desert last month and has already secured a record eighth player-of-the-year award.
Sorenstam's ninth victory of the year came after an eagle and six birdies in yesterday's round.
Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines was second, three strokes adrift. Kim Young of South Korea tied for third with Japan's Yuri Fudo and Sophie Gustafson of Sweden on 16 under.
