Els Sheds Bridesmaid Role at International

Tiger Woods wasn’t at Castle Rock, Colo., Sunday, but he was a factor, at least in the mind of Ernie Els.

Els had birdies on three of the last five holes to end an 18-month drought with a victory at The International. He finished with 48 points in the modified Stableford scoring system, four points better than Phil Mickelson.

Since his last PGA Tour win in the Nissan Open in February 1999, Els has finished second to Woods five times.

“For once I didn’t mess it up or I didn’t finish second or there wasn’t a better golfer in the field,” Els said. “It’s always great to win a tournament anywhere, especially for me competing against you-know-who.”

*

Lorie Kane shot a final-round 71 to finish with an 11-under-par 205 and win the LPGA Michelob Light Classic at Eureka, Mo. Her first LPGA Tour victory came after nine runner-up finishes.

Kristi Albers was second, three strokes behind.

*

Ed Dougherty shot a six-under-par 66 and won his first Senior Tour title, the Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic, by two strokes over Hale Irwin and Gil Morgan at Coon Rapids, Minn.

Dougherty finished at 197.

Up Next

Schedule of tournaments for golf’s major tours:

PGA

* Thursday-Sunday--Buick Open, Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, Grand Blanc, Mich.

SENIOR PGA

* Friday-Sunday--AT&T; Canada Senior Open, St. Charles Country Club, Winnipeg, Canada.

LPGA

* Thursday-Sunday--Du Maurier Classic, The Royal Ottawa Golf Course, Aylmer, Canada.