SYDNEY - New Zealand golfer Michael Long secured his best Australian Open finish with a share of third yesterday behind Australian winner Adam Scott.
Scott captured his first Australian Open title, and his first tournament win on home soil with a closing round 72 for a 15-under parvictory in bright but very windy conditions at the New South Wales Golf Club course in Sydney.
Fellow Australian and former champion Stuart Appleby, was a distant five strokes further back in second place after carding a 75 for a 10-under par total.
Long shared third place on six-under par with Australia's Nick O'Hern and visiting American Bryce Molder.
The Cromwell-born player had began the last day in a share of ninth before carding a 70 that was a mixture of five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 15th hole.
"I'm delighted with my finish. It's my best Australian Open result, as fifth was my previous best result," Long said.
"I haven't played that much golf this year so this result is going to do my confidence the world of good now heading to Queensland for this week's Australian PGA.
"However this also reinforces what I have been doing of late and that's been to take it very easy and it's paid off.
"It was a tough week with the conditions and the stoppage we had on Friday but I came into the week feeling very relaxed, so to finish in a share of third place is a fabulous effort for me."
Tim Wilkinson was next best of the seven remaining New Zealanders in the field despite carding a 74 for a two under par tally and a share of 12th place.
Masterton teenager Ben Campbell, 18, was the best of the five amateurs who made the cut. He carded a closing 77 to finish in a four-way tie for 40th place on five over par.
Campbell was awarded the "Low Amateur" for his result which saw him finish a stroke clear of Korean-born amateur Do Eun An.
Gareth Paddison finished in a tie for 49th, Brenden Stuart in joint 63rd, and Kelvin Jones was 67th.
