Adam Scott has beat out last year’s champion and arguably the hottest golfer on the planet currently in Ian Poulter to win his inaugural Australian Masters gold jacket with a rock solid 67 in the final round at Kingston Heath today.
Scott trailed by one shot leading into today’s play with both players picking up where they left off yesterday when the duo combined for 17 birdies. But it was Scott who showed the most poise down the final nine holes. Poulter found himself in trouble on the 12th when he hit a fairway metal into the lip of a fairway bunker, costing himself a shot that could have easily been two. On the 14th par 5, Poulter again strayed and dropped another shot.
Scott led by three shots heading to the 16th but Poulter wasn’t done yet and knocked a beautiful second to within five feet to make birdie and cut the deficit to two. On the 17th, Poulter made a vary rare mistake, missing a regulation tap in as he stretched over trying to avoid stepping on his playing partner’s line.
With a three shot advantage walking up the 18th, Scott finished in style as he knocked in a birdie putt to the delight of the healthy sized galleries spread out around the final hole. Poulter made par on the final hole to finish even par for the day and -13 for the tournament.
Scott’s birdie gave him a 67 for the day and a four shot victory to finish at -17 on a very difficult Kingston Heath layout.
Tied for third were 2004 Vic Open Champion Gareth Paddison and fellow New Zealander Mark Brown at -9.
Queenslander Adam Crawford had the best score of the day with a seven under 65 to finish outright fifth.
The best placed Victorian was David Bransdon who tied for 8th with Graeme McDowell at -2. Richard Green tied for 10th at -1 in a field that saw just 13 players finish under the card for the entire tournament.
New South Wales youngster Jake Higginbottom took the crown as the best amateur of the week, finishing at -1 in a tie for 10th. Higginbottom beat out Oliver Goss (+1) from Western Australia who played with Scott and McDowell in the first two rounds.
Victorian amateur Nathan Holman capped off a great showing, finishing tied for 30th at +4. Holman shot three over today with two rounds of 71 on Thursday and Saturday.
By: Greg Oakford