Spaniard Wins in Dubai


Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello closed with a 4-under 68 to win the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic. The 27-year-old ended up at 18-under 270 to edge Scotland's Stephen Gallacher (69) and third-round leader Lee Westwood (70) by a stroke at Emirates Golf Club.

Cabrera-Bello carded four birdies and the rest pars Sunday in becoming the third straight Spaniard to win the tournament. Miguel Angel Jimenez won in 2010 and Alvaro Quiros got the victory last year.

"I am just so happy," said Cabrera-Bello, who played in the next-to-last group in front of Westwood and Gallacher. "I played well throughout the week and am delighted to finish ahead of such a good field this week. This is unbelievable. When I saw that we were tied for the lead, I thought I could deliver the first punch by making a birdie.

"That would put some pressure on them," he added. "So, the birdie was important, but equally important was the fact that I managed to avoid making a bogey on the 16th after that errant tee shot."

Finishing in solo third was German Marcel Siem, who had a 71 en route to a 15-under 273 total. Tied for fifth at 274 were Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (67), Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (71), Scottland's Scott Jamieson (71) and Dane Thomas Bjorn (71).

Starting Sunday only a shot out of lead, 2010 PGA champion Martin Kaymer struggled to a 74 to finish in a tie for 13th at 277.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2012/tournamentid=2012006/leaderboard/index.html.

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