Emerson gains maiden Tour victory

England's Gary Emerson birdied two of the last three holes to win the Russian Open by two strokes on Sunday -- his first European Tour title.

Emerson, who turns 41 next month, finished on 16-under-par 272 after a closing round 68, two ahead of Austria's Marcus Brier who shot a 69 at the Moscow Country Club in suburban Nakhabino, just north of the capital.

"It means the world to me," said Emerson, whose previous best was tying for fourth at the Lancome Trophy in Paris in 2001.

"It hasn't sunk in yet to be honest but to have won my first European Tour event is great. I'm delighted because I was playing under pressure and I came through it," he added.

"I have been playing the best golf of my career this year and to win on the European Tour is just fantastic."

Brier, who was third on 11 under after three rounds, had a solid final round with three birdies on the back nine to finish one stroke ahead of Scotland's Kyron Sullivan.

Germany's Kariem Baraka, who led from day one and was the co-leader with Emerson on 12 under going into the final round, struggled at the end.

The 26-year-old German, nephew of Europe's Ryder Cup captain Bernard Langer, had a triple bogey on the par-five 17th hole to finish tied for 11th on eight under.

Most of the leaders had to play two rounds on Sunday after heavy rain washed out Saturday's third round.

Emerson began the day two strokes off the pace after posting the best score on Friday with a seven-under 65.

"I birdied the first and second holes which was a great start and then things went a bit flat and I was leaving a lot of my putts short," he said.

"But then I holed a birdie putt on the 14th which was a big putt and it gave me my confidence back."

The win will give Emerson a Tour exemption until the end of 2005. "I have been playing on the Tour for 10 years and I feel as though I have got my job back," said the Salisbury native, who also pocketed the 67,903 euros ($83,330) first prize.

"My plans will obviously change now for the rest of the season, because I will be able to play the rest of the year on the European Tour."

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