Playing close to his native land, DuBraal held off threats from Westrian
star Matthias Rothies, Jr. and Utanian rookie sensation Amea Aretasuna
to win the Zartlam Open on Sunday. 

DuBraal picked up his first IGT victory after a previous runner-up
finish at the other IGT event played in Whitlam already earlier this
year, the Erste Communications Whitlam Open.  "I like playing close to
home", DuBraal said, "I know these courses from even Tom-Koh days when
we used to practice here, and played the Terramarc championships.  It's
the next best thing to playing at home."

"I definitely didn't want to let this one slip away. This win has given
me confidence again. I'm glad I'm over that final hurdle. I think I
might have some free sailing now.''

The Zartanian with the syrupy swing saw his lead dwindle to 3 points on
two occasions Sunday, but each time he responded with birdies. Then he
underscored his determination to win with birdies on the 14th, 16th and
17th holes.

The unflappable DuBraal had a final round of 8 points for a total of
48.  Rothies finished second with 44 points, and Aretasuna was third
with 41.

The modified Stableford scoring system used in this event awards a
player 5 points for an eagle, 2 points for a birdie, zero for a par,
minus-1 for a bogey and minus-3 for a double bogey or worse.

DuBraal, now one of Vexillium's second-ranked player, began the final
round with an eight-point lead over Rothies and Western Zartanian Alfred
Merch.

Aretasuna, who was 10 points behind DuBraal, made the first move, making
birdie on his first three holes to get to 36. When DuBraal took a bogey
on his third hole, the lead was reduced to three points.

DuBraal immediately responded with a birdie on the difficult par-3
fourth hole.
When Aretasuna birdied No. 7 to get to 38, the lead again was three.

Rothies joined Aretasuna at 38 with a birdie at the par-5 eighth hole,
but DuBraal countered with a birdie of his own, chipping to 5 feet and
making the putt to move to 43 and a five-point margin.

Aretasuna met disaster at the par-4 10th hole, taking a double bogey.

DuBraal gave a point back with a bogey at 11, but his lead went back to
5 when Rothies bogeyed No. 13 with a 3-putt.

On the par-5 14th, Rothies' bid for eagle on a putt from the fringe
missed, and he made birdie. But DuBraal, who had driven into the rough,
matched him with an 18-foot downhill birdie putt for 44 points to
Rothies' 39.

DuBraal rifled a 7-iron to 5 feet at No. 16 and made birdie to get to
46.

Aretasuna, meanwhile, eagled the par-5 17th to get to 41, and Rothies
ran in a long putt for an eagle of his own at 17 for 44 points. But
DuBraal made a clinching birdie, pitching to inches after hitting his
second shot just over the green.

''I felt like I had a pretty good shot all day,'' Rothies said, ''but
Michael made it difficult to make up those 8 points. When he birdied 16
and 17, those turned out to be pretty crucial points.''

The sentimental favorite, Masters Champion Rod Sinclair was forced to
pull out of the tournament after heavily contending in the first two
rounds due to an ankle injury sustained a day before during play. 
Another major champion, Open of the Realm Title holder James Nithz had
to withdraw after the first round with back pain.

Amea Aretasuna was thrilled with his third place: "Our (the Utanian
players, ed.) participation on the IGT was accompanied by some
controversy, but this should silence all critics.  I am positively
ecstatic with this third place.  I sincerely hope that this will draw
more attention to golf in Utania.  I know there are more excellent
players waiting to join the IGT - hopefully now they will get the
backing to do so.  As for me, I now know I can play with the best.  I
now know that I can win out here, and that will be my next goal!"  The
Belson Foods Utanian Open is of course coming up the week after the IGT
Grand CHampionship, where the Utanians should be challenging hard.

IGT announced that likey the Zartlam Open will be moved to a location in
Eastern Zartania next year, and will be rotating between Zartania and
Whitlam thereafter.  IGT Commissioner Matthias Rothies Sr. also
confirmed that the IGT GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP this year will be played in
Davenport, and that the SCHNYSNA VEXILLIUM CHAMPIONSHIP will be played
in Eastern Zartania.  Another regular Zartanian IGT event is also
planned to be added to the IGT schedule next year.

Whitlam's home boys did not particularly play well this week, especially
after Rod Sinclair withdrew, there were few Whitlamite names seen near
the top of the leader board.  But they will get another chance to shine
at home next week at the Hawke Bitter Classic, which will also be the
only tournament remaining before the prestiguous IGT GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP.

The final results and earnings, in Christiana Crowns:

                  DuBraal (KTZ), $630,000               15-19-6-8--48

                  M. Rothies, Jr. (WES), $378,000       10-8-14-12--44 

                  Aretasuna (UTA), $238,000             14-14-2-11--41 

                  Merch (REZ), $168,000                 12-14-6-6--38 

                  Zirandria (NAM), $140,000             6-10-6-10--32 

                  Kossuth (SPA), $121,625               2-8-11-10--31 
                  Zoek (WES), $121,625                  6-14-4-4--31 

                  Clarkeston (FRW), $108,500            15-2-7-6--30 

                  Orford (FRW), $98,000                 3-8-9-9--29 
                  Cates (DAV), $98,000                  2-12-14-1--29 

                  Okay (WMC), $80,500                   8-5-6-9--28 
                  Da Gama (ORD), $80,500                5-7-8-8--28 
                  Larocquette (DAV), $80,500            15-(-3)-8-8--28 

                  DePoort (WES), $59,500                1-10-9-7--27 
                  O'Bannon (DAV), $59,500               7-10-6-4--27 
                  Salvatori (FRW), $59,500              7-11-5-4--27 
                  Antanavo (LEN), $59,500               5-18-1-3--27 
                  Siggis (BOB), $59,500                 8-13-9-(-3)--27 

                  Weslow (IWK), $47,250                 5-7-8-6--26 
                  Beobidhenhe (EDE), $47,250            4-14-6-2--26 

                  Von Chicken (WES), $39,200            2-7-11-5--25 
                  T. Rothies (WES), $39,200             8-0-16-1--25 
                  O'Banion (SPA), $39,200               11-3-11-0--25 

                  Walker (BOW),  $29,838                10-6-2-6--24 
                  L. Mistuchen (WMC), $29,838           10-4-5-5--24 
                  Pennenton (UTA), $29,838              12-8-1-3--24 
                  Protheroe (FRW), $29,838              4-7-12-1--24 

                  Pescitel (ALT), $25,375               10-5-3-5--23 
                  Shigetsuki (WMC), $25,375             7-5-6-5--23 

                  Von Toschamerton (DEY), $23,800       10-12-0-0--22 

                  Davys (FRW), $21,219                  (-1)-11-8-3--21 
                  Falangio (EKZ), $21,219               7-6-5-3--21 
                  Bajme (KTZ), $21,219                  6-4-10-1--21 
                  Ouesreche (BRO), $21,219              13-4-6-(-2)--21 

                  Kilandra (BOW), $18,025               11-5-2-1--19 
                  Fittler (FRW), $18,025                11-0-8-0--19 
                  Sunilam (WMC), $18,025                7-10-4-(-2)--19
 
                  McGurk (SPA), $16,450                 7-5-10-(-5)--17 

                  Failed To qualify (third round)

                  Nagy (SPA), $14,700                   5-6-6--17 
                  Scipshold (ALT), $14,700              6-7-4--17 
                  Ipsi (KTZ), $14,700                   15-(-2)-4--17 
                  Persepolis (DRA), $14,700             8-6-3--17 

                  Omala (NIO), $12,600                  6-6-4--16 
                  Lariman (REZ), $12,600                10-(-2)-8--16 

                  Champlain (WMC), $10,850              9-4-2--15 
                  Pharinser (DRA), $10,850              0-8-7--15 
                  Bobone (ORD), $10,850                 6-1-8--15 

                  Du Klerik (REZ), $8,797               2-10-2--14 
                  Starn (LCP), $8,797                   5-7-2--14 
                  Buettner (GUW), $8,797                11-3-0--14 
                  Vandenbrigg (WES), $8,797             7-2-5--14 
                  Schwartz (DEU), $8,797                3-6-5--14 
                  Giselund (LOM), $8,797                2-5-7--14 

                  Silva (FRW), $8,050                   6-6-1--13 
                  Johannessen (WES), $8,050             11-0-2--13 
                  Bromaghim (MER), $8,050               1-9-3--13 

                  Straswell (WES), $7,805               5-7-0--12 
                  Chowdown (WMC), $7,805                (-3)-13-2--12 
                  Hauzu (WMC), $7,805                   2-7-3--12 
                  Choek (WMC), $7,805                   4-12-(-4)--12 

                  Bartrim (FRW), $7,595                 3-8-(-1)--10 
                  Burchard (CHR), $7,595                2-6-2--10 

                  Predicor (ALB), $7,385                6-7-(-4)--9 
                  Lubjana (DRA), $7,385                 (-1)-8-2--9 
                  Kessel (KTZ), $7,385                  4-3-2--9 
                  Gortsidler (ALT), $7,385              (-3)-10-2--9
 
                  Kalviack (KAL), $7,175                4-4-0--8 
                  Pishenky (DRA), $7,175                3-4-1--8 

                  Van der Treff (WES), $7,070           7-1-(-1)--7 

                  Sotogune (WMC), $6,965                8-1-(-3)--6 
                  Dragurdt (KAL), $6,965                3-5-(-2)--6 

                  Part (WMC), $6,825                    10-(-3)-(-2)--5 
                  Marriott (WMC), $6,825                8-(-1)-(-2)--5 

                  Tennant (ARM), $6,685                 5-5-(-6)--4 
                  Bneressia (NAM), $6,685               5-3-(-4)--4 
                  Sinclair (FRW)                        15-8-WD 7