STONEHAM'S Richard Bland carded a third consecutive level par 71 to finish a solid 23rd in the latest European Tour event - keeping his hopes of maintaining his card for next season alive.

His four-round total at the Omega European Masters, held at Crans-sur-Sierre, Switzerland, of 280 earned him just over 17,000 euros and leapfrogged him above Salisbury's Gary Emerson into 136th place on the Volvo Order of Merit.

Emerson, although making the cut, had a poor final round of 79 to finish at the back of the field - earning just over 2,000 euros for 139th spot on the order of merit.

The form of both players, however, has picked up in recent weeks and both will still believe that they can finish in the top 115 to keep their playing rights for next season.

South Africa's Ernie Els cruised to victory in the event - his sixth win of the year. Els carded a final round 65 for a 17 under total of 267 to claim the £185,000 first prize.

The world number two finished six shots ahead of New Zealand's Michael Campbell with overnight leader Eduardo Romero of Argentina a shot behind in third.

Romero was hoping to become the oldest ever winner on tour at the grand old age of 49, but was the only player in the field not to card a single birdie as he struggled to a closing 74.

Brokenhurst Manor's Martin LeMesurier finished tied 13th in the Challenge Tour's BA CA Golf Open in Austria yesterday.

A final round of 70 gave him a seven under total and a cheque for almost 2,500 euros, keeping him in touch with Austrian Martin Wiegele who heads the order of merit.

Britain and Ireland's golfers snatched a record-breaking third successive victory in the Walker Cup yesterday.

In a tense finale, the hosts took 1.5 points from the final two games to secure victory at Ganton.