| Coventry,
England, 12th September 1998 -
Swiss Paolo Quirici outclassed Europe's golfing establishment in the One 2 One
British Masters on Saturday. Quirici
took a one shot lead with a composed two-under-par third round 70 for a five-under
total of 211 at wet and windy Forest of Arden. Two birdies in the last three holes
sprang the European number 79 clear. Darren
Clarke began as if he was determined to leave the field behind in his quest for
the European number one spot. Two early birdies boosted the Briton from one to
three ahead. But
then Clarke let his game slip. He was overtaken briefly by compatriot Mark Roe
and eventually overhauled by Quirici as he ran up four bogeys, three in five holes
before the turn, as the weather deteriorated. Clarke,
only £5,500 ($9,300) behind rankings leader Lee Westwood, who trailed him by four
after an indifferent 73, had to settle for a share of second place. Clarke
took 74 for 212, one behind Quirici along with five times European number one
Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Roe, Swede Daniel Chopra and Frenchman Marc Farry,
whose 67 was the best of the day. "Last
week I wouldn't have expected to see myself top of the leader board in front of
all Europe's star players," said Quirici. "For being there I must thank
my coach Andrea Ferrario. "He
dragged himself out of bed with his foot in plaster and came and sat on the range
with me until we got things right and this week's improved performance is down
to him. "I've
never led going into a final round before and so all I can do is try and keep
things simple and keep my head on." Clarke
felt he was still not out of the running for his second title of the year. "I
had a perfect chance to go four or five shots ahead just like earlier in the week,"
said Clarke. But from the fourth I hardly hit a golf shot. Maybe one of these
days I'll get it right in the end." His
two rankings rivals had mixed feelings about this year's race. After a 70 in which
he felt he had left shots out on the course. Montgomerie insisted he was not interested
in winning the order of merit. "I've
done it, won five in a row," said the Scot. "It's all done and dusted.
" Westwood
admitted he was only a shadow of the player who won three times in Europe and
once in the United States before the Open Championship. "My confidence is
as low as it can be tee-to-green," he said. | 
