MELBOURNE, Dec 8: Peter Lonard won his second Australian Masters title in dramatic fashion on Sunday when he beat Gavin Coles on the third playoff hole at Melbourne’s Huntingdale course.

The Australia trio of overnight leader Adam Scott, Coles and Lonard each shot four-round totals of nine-under-par 279 to advance to a playoff.

Scott carded three birdies and two bogeys in his 71 on Sunday while Lonard finished the strongest of the trio with a six-under 66. Coles carded a 70.

Sydney’s Lonard was ranked two places outside the world’s top 50 before this week’s tournament.

The 35-year-old was crowned joint Australian PGA champion last week in a controversial finish at Queensland’s Coolum course with compatriot Jarrod Moseley after the pair could not be split in fading light after one extra hole.

Scott, 22, who was seventh on the European Order of Merit this year, dropped out on the first playoff hole on Sunday, the par-four 18th, with a bogey five.

Coles and Lonard both made par on the second hole, the par-four 17th, as Lonard calmly nailed a three-yard putt to stay in the tournament.

The pair moved back to the 18th where Lonard made another par and Coles found a fairway bunker with his tee-shot and had a bogey five.

Australia’s Robert Allenby, the world number 24, was outright fourth after closing with a 70 in his eight-under-par 280.

Britain’s six times major winner Nick Faldo tied for 15th place on two-under-par 286 after sub-par rounds of 67 and 71 during the weekend.

American teenager Ty Tryon, the youngest player to win a U.S. PGA Tour playing card, finished on one-over-par 289 after a fourth round 70.

American eight times major winner Tom Watson, 53, shot a 74 for a four-round aggregate of six-over 294.

Fourth round scores

279 Peter Lonard 70 72 71 66, Adam Scott 70 69 69 71, Gavin Coles 71 69 69 70 (Lonard won on the third playoff hole)

280 Robert Allenby 72 73 65 70

282 Richard Green 73 74 67 68, Adam Crawford 71 75 67 69, Steve Collins 68 68 75 71, Craig Parry 72 73 66 71

283 Aaron Baddeley 75 75 64 69, Nick O’Hern 72 74 65 72

284 Steven Conran 71 73 76 64, John Senden 77 72 67 68, Greg Turner (New Zealand) 73 71 70 70

285 Stuart Appleby 74 74 65 72

286 Peter Fowler 73 74 68 71 Nick Faldo (Britain) 74 74 67 71

287 Gary Simpson 74 73 73 67, Andrew Tschudin 73 73 70 71, Nathan Green 76 74 66 71.

S. KOREAN GRABS CROWN