HEREFORD golfer David Park fired a final round of 68 to earn £16,000 and a top 20 finish in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Park finished in tied 16th on eight under par, just ahead of Droitwich's John Bickerton who also had a good tournament at the Emirates Golf Club to share 20th place and pick up just over £13,000 with a last round of 71.

The event was won by Robert-Jan Derksen who shot a spectacular 65 to complete a fairytale story by capturing his first European Tour title, finishing on 17 under par.

The Dutchman held off the reigning Open champion and world number two Ernie Els.

Derksen had never even had a top-10 finish on the European Tour in nine years of trying and was ranked 593rd in the world.

To take the £200,000 first prize, more than the 29-year-old had earned in his entire tour career, Derksen had to deny Els his fifth win in seven starts this year.

Yet he would not even have played in the tournament if Tiger Woods had decided it was safe for him to travel to the Middle East.