Paul Lawrie’s 68 helps keep up strong start

PAUL Lawrie cemented his place in the European Ryder Cup standings as the Scottish contingent staged a strong finish in the Volvo China Open.

The former Open champion signed off with a four-under-par 68 for 275 and a share of 14th – his fifth top-15 finish of the season. It earned Lawrie, who bagged five birdies on the back nine as he stormed home in 32, around £35,000 to take his winnings for the season to just under £525,000.

He’s lying seventh in the Race to Dubai, three places behind weekend winner Branden Grace, and has held on to fifth spot on the European list for the Ryder Cup.

“I feel I left some shots out on the course, which is frustrating, but I’m hitting it awesome, certainly with the driver,” said Lawrie, who will take this week off before returning to action in the Spanish Open.

Fifer Peter Whiteford also came home in 32 as he shot a 66 which contained an eagle and six birdies, including three in the last four holes, to share 18th place on 276

Ending a run of three missed cuts, the Kirkcaldy man picked up a cheque for close to £23,000 to leap from 191st to 127th on the money-list.

Scott Jamieson (67 for 277), David Drysdale (68 for 278) and Richie Ramsay (69 for 283) also signed off with sub-par efforts at Binhai Lake to finish 23rd, 29th and 52nd respectively.

Jamieson’s round had six birdies, two in the last three holes, while Drysdale had nine birdies in total but undid some of his good work with a double-bogey 6 at the 17th.

Colin Montgomerie was the odd man out amongst the Scots on the last day, the former Ryder Cup captain having to settle for a 72 and a tie for 60th on 284.