time Major winner Padraig Harrington cruised to a three-stroke victory in the Iskandar Johor Open Sunday, ending a two-year title drought in style. The 39-year-old Ryder Cup star, who began the final round with a five-shot cushion, was never seriously threatened by the chasing pack, hitting a 69 to take him to a total of 20-under-par in the 1.25-million-dollar Asian Tour event. Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-Yul finished second after a 65, including three birdies on the final three holes, one ahead of Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, who carded a 68. “It's always nice to win, even nicer when there's been a bit of a drought. Winning is a habit so it's nice to come out here and win and do it in style,” said Harrington. “I really preferred the conditions that were there in the last two days where it was windy and it was tough to go at all the pins. Today was just perfect weather, perfect conditions. “The course was in great shape and I knew people could make a lot of birdies out there so it was very important, it was in my mindset that I had to make some birdies out there, even if I made some bogeys, I needed to make plenty of birdies.” Harrington, who takes home a check for nearly $200,000, was quickly into his stride Sunday, birdieing three of his first four holes and turning in 34. His lead briefly dropped to four after fireworks from South Korea's Noh and Kiradech on the 11th hole. But the unflustered Irishman, ranked 22nd in the world, extended his lead further after holing a long putt for birdie on the par-five 13th, following up with a birdie on the 14th after his second shot landed close to the pin. Harrington, who surged to joint top of the leaderboard with two eagles in the last three holes in his first round 64, has been a model of consistency throughout the tournament. Victory at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in southern Malaysia was the first for Harrington in an event sanctioned by any of the major tours since his win at the 2008 PGA Championship. Harrington, who has also won the British Open twice, played with neck pain Friday, saying he would have pulled out before the third round had he not been leading the tournament. Following three days of hot and humid conditions, play was delayed by two hours Sunday due to a thunderstorm, with organizers opting for a two-tee start. Green claims Portugal Masters In Portugal, Australia's Richard Green capitalized on overnight leader Pablo Martin's misfortune to win the Portugal Masters here Sunday. Green, seven shots off the Spaniard after Saturday's third round, had an eventful final round with 11 birdies and four bogeys for a seven under par 65 for an 18 under par total of 270. Martin had bogeys at the 15th and 16th but a birdie at the 17th left him only requiring a birdie at the final hole to force a playoff with Green, watching from the clubhouse. But he fluffed his lines, driving into the water and finishing with a double bogey for a total of 15 under par 273 for a tie for sixth. The round of the day belonged to Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari with nine birdies and an eagle at the par-five third for a 10-under par round and a share of second on 16 under 272 with Swede Robert Karlsson, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Joost Luiten of Holland. Mediate stays in front In California, Rocco Mediate holed out with a pitching wedge from 111 yards on the par-five 15th Saturday, his third eagle of the week helping him maintain a three-shot lead in the Frys.com Open. Mediate, 47, carded a four-under par 67 for a 17-under total of 196 at CordeValle Golf Club. Mediate had a three-shot lead over Bo Van Pelt, who carded a 65 for 199. Rookie Alex Prugh (66) and Japan's Ryuji Imada (69) shared third on 201 and Prugh was one of three other players to notch an eagle, all of them on the 298-yard par-four 17th. Prugh used a three-wood off the tee to get within two feet of the pin. Redman shares lead In California, Michele Redman holed out from 126 yards for an eagle on the par-4 18th hole for a 4-under 68 and a share of the third-round lead in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge with Spain's Beatriz Recari and South Korea's Ilhee Lee Saturday. Redman, who had a double bogey on the par-3 16th, hit an 8-iron approach that landed 16 feet from the pin, then rolled into the cup as the crowd cheered. Lee also shot a 68, and Recari had a 70 to match Redman at 12 under on the Blackhawk Country Club course. Wendy Ward (69) and France's Gwladys Nocera (71) were 11 under.
