Golf: Gilford's consistency drives him past Barnes: Ryder Cup player joins the millionaire's club in Tenerife by finishing in style

DAVID GILFORD foiled Brian Barnes's attempt to become the oldest winner in PGA European Tour history in Tenerife yesterday and at the same time joined the Tour's millionaire's club.

The 27-year-old Ryder Cup player from Crewe shot a final round of 70 to win the Tenerife Open at Golf del Sur with a 10-under-par total of 278, and a pounds 41,660 top prize which sent his career earnings to pounds 1,024,332.

Gilford's consistency earned him his fifth European title by two strokes from a group of three players as Barnes, the third-round leader, faltered over the closing stretch and had to settle for a 77 and a share of fifth place on 281.

Barnes, 49 in June, had been hoping to overtake Neil Coles as the Tour's oldest winner, but he ran out of steam near the end and said: 'I'm not down. . . just annoyed. I had seven three-putts and that tells the whole story.'

Gilford, his driving improved vastly by his new Ping club, set out four strokes behind Barnes and was still one behind with six to play before taking command.

He hit the shot which transformed the leaderboard - a seven- iron to eight feet for an eagle three at the 14th - and that effectively ended the challenge of Barnes and Spain's main contender, Juan Quiros.

Wayne Riley, of Australia, England's Andrew Murray and Quiros finished in a tie for second place on 280, eight under par, with Barnes picking up a meagre pounds 8,275 for a share of fifth.

TENERIFE OPEN (Tenerife): Leading final scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 278 D Gilford 72 70 66 70. 280 W Riley (Aus) 68 71 70 71; A Murray 73 67 68 72; J Quiros (Sp) 70 68 67 75. 281 B Malley (US) 69 76 69 67; J-M Canizares (Sp) 67 70 73 71; D Ray 70 70 69 72; B Barnes 73 67 64 77. 283 J Sewell 74 67 73 69; P Curry 69 71 72 71; D Smyth 70 71 70 72; J Davila (Sp) 74 68 70 71; J M Olazabal (Sp) 73 69 70 71; R Alvarez (Arg) 72 65 73 73. 284 J Rivero (Sp) 73 68 73 70; J Metcalfe 71 68 76 69; D Borrego (Sp) 68 70 72 74. 285 J Robson 71 72 72 70; H Selby-Green 72 73 69 71; G Turner (NZ) 73 70 71 71; S Luna (Sp) 74 69 70 72; R Berhorst (Ger) 72 71 70 72; R Claydon 71 71 70 73; J Carriles (Sp) 71 71 69 74; M Jiminez (Sp) 74 70 67 74; I Garrido (Sp) 75 67 66 77.

VOLVO ORDER OF MERIT (GB or Irl unless stated): 1 E Els (SA) 83,100; 2 A Forsbrand (Swe) 66,760; 3 H Clark 57,520; 4 M Lanner (Swe) 46,980; 5 D Gilford 46,308; 6 B Langer (Ger) 41,812; 7 P Hedblom (Swe) 35,655; 8 W Westner (SA) 32,180; 9 I Woosnam 30,000; 10 R Karlsson (Swe) 28,180.