BRISBANE, Nov 18: Defending champion Robert Allenby won the Australian PGA Championship by one stroke in a dramatic finish at the par-72 Royal Queensland course in Brisbane on Sunday.
Allenby took a two-shot lead over playing partner and fellow Australian Geoff Ogilvy into the final hole and made par after missing the green with his approach while Ogilvy had a birdie to almost force a playoff.
Allenby, 30, the world number 26, had a four-round total of 15-under par 273 (65-69-70-69) while Ogilvy, 24, had 14-under par 274 (71-66-68-69) in the A$1million (US$520,000) tournament.
Allenby, a winner twice on the U.S. Tour in 2000 and 2001, became the first player to win consecutive Australian PGA Championships since former world number one Greg Norman in 1984-85.
New Zealand’s Gareth Paddison, making his professional debut, and Australia’s Craig Parry were equal third on 11-under 277.
Matthew Goggin (66-71-70-71) was outright fifth on 10-under 278 while 46-year-old Norman (68-73-72-66) created some excitement earlier in the day with a final round of six-under par to surge up the leaders’ board, eventually finishing outright sixth on nine-under 279.
Leading final round scores (Australian unless stated):