In a thrilling finish to the 2012 Men&aposs Victorian Open Scott Arnold claimed his first professional win at the Spring Valley Golf Club on Sunday. Starting the round tied with New Zealand s Michael Hendry at 9-under par, it was an exciting round of golf which saw the lead change many times before Arnold eventually prevailed. “It&aposs great, especially the way I did it as well, I just sort of hung in there all day, said Arnold. With scores of 71, 66, 67 and 68 for a tournament total 12-under the card Arnold showed composure when his playing partners made charges for the title. I didn&apost play fantastic golf but was still playing within myself and getting done what I needed to do. Barnesey was really putting the heat on, especially on the back nine at 11 and 12 and 13, I got out of my little zone and had to get back in and I was happy that I pulled it off.” Kurt Barnes headed into the final day three shots back from his playing partners, Arnold and Hendry, but with a birdie on his opening hole followed by birdies on the 5thand 6thand an eagle on the 7thhe looked unstoppable. I had to get out of the blocks early and I did, through nine holes I thought it was probably mine to lose, said Barnes A double bogey on the 11th followed by two more bogeys on 13 and 14 had all but worked Barnes out of the Victorian Open until an eagle on the 17th had him back in contention. I faltered a bit on the back nine, but I come home strong there. I thought if I made my eagle on 17 and Scotty missed his, I was still a chance, but that&aposs golf. Barnes finished with a final round score of 5-under 66 to take him to a tournament total of 11-under par, one shot back from Arnold in second place. Well done to Scotty, I gave it a good run, added Barnes. Hendry, who had dominated the tournament throughout the first two rounds, earning himself a six stroke lead heading into the weekend, unfortunately couldn’t finish the way he started, with his putting let him down. I&aposve never seen so many putts hit the hole, at not a lot of speed either, and find a way not to go in. On another day, they&aposd all drop and it would have been my day. It was just one of those things.” Hendry s final round saw him record four bogeys to finish the day at 2-over. With scores of 65, 66, 73, 73 to be 7-under the card and five shots from the lead, Hendry finished the Victorian Open third. Daniel Bringolf finished as the highest ranked amateur at 2-under par. France&aposs Joanna Klatten sealed the Women&aposs Victorian Open title with victory over Haeji Kang in a play-off at Spring Valley. In a dramatic final hour, Kang holed out for eagle on the 18th hole to force a play-off but Klatten held on for victory.
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