With Tiger Woods slicing his way to an easy victory at the Bristish Open, this year's BMW Russian Open 2000 was perhaps more exciting with the leader changing every day.

The tight competition left no time to take a stroll. South African Trevor Immelman looked certain to end up in third when suddenly he lost the game as his ball flew out and into the woods. He failed to receive a prize, though he went he had the tournament's best round - 64 (-8).

Italian Marco Bernardini was the victor, scoring 269 (-19). He was followed by German Erol Simsek, 272 (-16), and South African Jean Hugo, 274 (-14).

After the victory, Bernardini said, "I'm slightly embarrassed, but it is always pleasing to feel yourself master of the game and enjoy recognition of both audience and sponsors. The competition was tough — it was very difficult to make predictions. And the weather left much to be desired. It was not until the very last day that the sun smiled on us and made us feel hot."

The Russia Open, the country's largest professional golf tournament, was held at the Le Meridien Moscow Country Club at Nakhabino, Moscow region, and wrapped up on August 6.

Though rated as a top event in the European Challenge Tour golf competitions, the Russian Open is the lowest in the international tournament hierarchy and the first stage in a professional golfer's career. The winner is permitted to compete in a higher rank golf championship, for example, the European Professional Golf Association Tour.

The number of spectators exceeded the most optimistic forecasts and more than 140 journalists were accredited to cover the competition, which involved 142 golfers from 24 countries.

Golfers were swinging hard for special prizes, which added suspense to the game. A $50,000 cash award and BMW-523 were up for grabs to the first golfer who scored a hole-in-one on the 4th hole and 8th hole respectively. Neither prize was won. JT International, CIS and Baltics President Nick Ringer said, "To stimulate future golfers we will now double the hole-in-one prize to $100,000."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Honorary President of the Moscow Country Club Ivan Sergeev replied that it would be nice for BMW Russland Trading to double its prize as well.