Golf: Matthew closes with a 67 to finish sixth in California

After slipping down the field following scores of 75 and 74 in the second and third rounds, the Ricoh Women's British Open champion closed with a 67 to secure a share of sixth spot behind Hee Kyung Seo.

The Scot earned a cheque $46,961 and will now head into the opening major of the season - this week's Kraft Nabisco Championship - in good spirits.

Another Lothians stalwart, Stephen Gallacher, may fall short in his first target of the season but he's feeling confident about his long-term prospects.

The former Dunhill Links champion shared 12th place in the Anadalucian Open in Malaga after a closing 68 saw him finish on ten-under-par.

He earned 13,796 but still has to make more than 125,000 in two events – the China Open and the Korea Masters – to secure his card through a ten-event medical exemption.

Failing that, Gallacher would have to resort to the card he won at the Qualifying School at the end of last season, which won't get him to as many events later in the year.

Nevetheless, the former Walker Cup player is pleased with the way he has returned to the Tour after missing the second half of last season through illness.

"The game is getting better every week," said Gallacher after finishing seven shots behind the winner in Malaga, South African Louis Oosthuizen.

Fifer Peter Whiteford finished joint-second – his best-ever performance on the European Tour - after a closing 66.

The 29-year-old from Kirkcaldy picked up a cheque for 77,410 despite suffering the disappointment of having his driver stolen outside the Parador clubhouse before his third round on Saturday.

Dunbar's David Drysdale tied for 45th on two-under, just ahead of Lothians-based Richie Ramsay, while Andrew Oldcorn closed with two 73s to finish six-over.

On the Challenge Tour, Lloyd Saltman was a model of consistency as he finished in the top 25 in the Kenya Open in Nairobi.

After opening with a 73, the Aegon player reeled off three successive 70s to finish on one-under-par for the tournament.

That made him the leading Scot after Jamie McLeary of Marriott Dalmahoy closed with a costly 75 to finish on two-over.

In South Africa, Musselburgh's Fraser Mann had his worst finish so far on the European Seniors Tour.

After an opening 76 in the Berenberg Masters at Fancourt, Mann slumped to rounds of 84 and 85 to finish on 26-over - 29 shots behind winner Boonchu Ruangkit.

ERNIE ELS was set for a second straight PGA Tour win before storms led to the abandonment of play in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational yesterday.

South African Els had a two-shot lead over Kevin Na and was on the 15th hole when the storms moved in and officials called the players off the course.

Play was abandoned for the day around three hours later at 1730 local time and the tournament was scheduled to resume at 1000 today.

Els looked frustrated at the decision but the forecast heavy rain, thunder and lightning began in earnest and put paid to hopes of finishing on Sunday.