/ 15 October 1998

Els to meet Westwood in quarters

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 10.15pm.

SOUTH Africa’s three-time World Matchplay Championships winner Ernie Els will meet rising European star Lee Westwood in the quarterfinals of this year’s event after Westwood thrashed Australian Stuart Appleby eight and seven on Thursday.

Dimunitive Welshman Ian Woosnam, who replaced German Bernhard Langer at the last minute, beat Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke 4 and 3 to book a place against world number-one Tiger Woods on Friday.

US Open and US Masters champion Mark O’ Meara will face Colin Montgomerie on Friday after the Scotsman beat Dane Thomas Bjorn 4 and 3 to book a place in the quarterfinals.

Swede Patrick Sjoland and American steve Stricker seemed highly eager to pit their skills against defending champion Vijay Singh of Fiji. Their match went into over-time when they were deadlocked after 36 holes, but Sjoland eventually emerged the victor, beating Stricker by one hole.