AFP, Gold Coast :
Australian Nathan Holman won the European Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship in a three-way playoff at Royal Pines on Sunday.
Holman won on the first play-off hole with a par from American Harold Varner III and South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli.
Holman worked his way into contention for the play-off with a final round one-over 73 in tough playing conditions.
It was the second consecutive year the Gold Coast tournament had been decided beyond the regulation 72 holes. But unlike last year’s marathon seven-hole playoff between Australians Greg Chalmers, Adam Scott and Wade Ormsby, only one hole was needed. Holman, 24, held his nerve to make par on the 18th hole-one of the toughest in the new-look back nine at Royal Pines-while Varner and Frittelli both made bogeys.
For his victory Holman will receive a full European Tour card for the next two years following a new co-sanctioning agreement with the Australian PGA. “It’s huge. I didn’t realise what was on the line, really,” said Holman, who began the day two strokes off the pace. “I did think I’d get to those events in the future, but to do it off the back of a victory is probably going to be better.
“I’ve deserved it. It’s stuff you dream of, playing golf as a kid.”
The last international player to win the event was New Zealand’s Greg Turner in 1989.
Holman, Varner and Frittelli all finished on even-par 288 for the tournament, a reflection of the windy conditions and the uncompromising nature of the remodelled back nine.
Varner only narrowly missed a nine-foot putt at the last, which would have seen him claim outright victory.
Holman looked poised to win much earlier until nerves set in and he gave up back-to-back bogeys on the final two holes-the only blemishes on his card aside from a double-bogey on the first.
Zander Lombard, the 20-year-old former South African amateur who was tied for the overnight lead with Varner and Frittelli, finished fourth after a four-over-par 76.
Only six players managed to complete their final rounds below par, with the best score coming from Adam Stephens and South African Colin Nel, who both fired two-under-par 70s.
