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MELBOURNE - English golfer Justin Rose won his first European Tour event for four years with a two-shot triumph in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale yesterday.
Rose, 26, broke a title drought dating back to the 2002 British Masters by firing a final round one-over 73 to finish
on 12-under 276, two ahead of Australia's Richard Green and Greg Chalmers in the event co-sanctioned with the Australasian Tour.
"I can't believe it's been four years," said the world No 69, who became the first overseas winner of the title since Scotland's Colin Montgomerie in 2001.
"It's been a big week confidence-wise for me. I've had a few close calls this season but to win a tournament like this is great."
Green and Chalmers finished on 10-under, one ahead of Australian amateur Aaron Pike and two clear of compatriot Aaron Baddeley, who was on his own in fifth after a closing 71.
Steve Alker was the best of the New Zealanders, 14 shots behind Rose in a share of 43rd place after closing with a round of 72, while Mahal Pearce was another five strokes back in a tie for 60th after a 76.
Rose, who led overnight by two, reached the sixth quietly at one-under for the day at 14-under when disaster struck. His tee shot found the sand and his second squirted off the face of the trap into an unplayable lie in the bushes. He chipped out before finding the back of the green and three-putting.
He shook off the disappointment straight away with a birdie at the eighth before reaching the turn in one-over 37.
He was joined in the lead by Pike on 11-under when the burly amateur holed his bunker shot for an eagle at the par-five 14th, but birdies at 14 and 16 gave Rose breathing space.
He took an iron for safety at the 18th but found trouble on the right but a brilliant recovery allowed the Englishman to par and secure his third European Tour title.
Green, the 2004 champion, had surged through the pack as the gusting wind and quickening greens made life difficult on the course in Melbourne's southern suburbs.
He fired a rare bogey-free 69 to set the clubhouse target as Rose and Pike battled for the advantage.
Pike's eagle at the 14th brought him back into it but he finished bogey, bogey, the latter after his 15m putt for birdie trickled into a greenside bunker, as the 21-year-old secured a most admirable fourth. Chalmers would have got closer but for a nightmare at the ninth.
- REUTERS
