RYE (Australia), Dec 21: World number 42 Peter Lonard clinched his first Australian Open title when a birdie at the 72nd hole edged out U.S. Open runner-up Stephen Leaney and Chris Downes by one stroke on Sunday.

Lonard, who started the day two shots behind overnight leader Downes, closed with a three-under-par 69 to finish on nine-under 279 and win a gripping shootout with Leaney at the new Moonah Links course about 100 km south of Melbourne.

Leading fourth round scores

279 Peter Lonard 68 72 70 69

280 Stephen Leaney 71 70 68 71, Chris Downes 67 70 71 72

281 Peter Fowler 70 71 70 70, Craig Jones 69 71 70 71

282 Robert Allenby 72 70 70 70, Martin Doyle 73 69 69 71, Steven Conran 73 69 68 72

283 Matthew Ecob 72 68 71 72, Ricky Barnes (U.S.) 69 69 72 73

284 Craig Spence 71 75 73 65, Nathan Green 69 70 74 71, Scott Hend 71 71 70 72, Steve Allan 72 66 72 74, Matthew Millar 72 69 69 74, Stuart Appleby 69 73 68 74.—Reuters