Date: December 21, 2007
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Parry a popular winner of 2007 MFS Australian Open

Australian fan favourite Craig Parry took out the 2007 MFS Australian Open by one stroke from Nick O&aposHern, Won Joon Lee and Brandt Snedeker at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney. The 41-year old carded a three-under 69 on the final day which was good enough to hold off his fast-finishing opponents. It is Parry&aposs first national title and one he says he will &aposremember forever&apos. “To win the Australian Open has been a long time dream of mine,” Parry said. “I was leading amateur in 1984 when Tom Watson won. I was 17 years of age and I thought this is what I want to do, be the best. I got close a few times, lost a play off, finished second once, third about eight times. I never thought I d actually get here and it&aposs an amazing feeling.” Parry started the final day two shots in arrears of Robert Allenby and James Nitties but his experience shone though as the final round wore on. Parry went bogey, birdie either side of the turn before consecutive birdies on 13 and 14 signalled his charge. With O&aposHern, Nitties and Allenby dropping shots around him, Parry emerged from the pack as the main contender, desperate to have his name engraved on the prestigious Stonehaven Cup. A superb up and down from the sand on 17 left him in need of a par on the final hole and the veteran duly saluted by hitting his drive down the middle, safely laying up, chipping on and two-putting for a famous victory. Executive Chairman of the Australian Opens, Paul McNamee said, “I would like to congratulate Craig on becoming the 2007 MFS Australian Open champion. He has served Australian golf so well over the years and it was fitting that he finally tasted victory. “It was a magnificent week of golf in Sydney that included bumper crowds, course records, a spectacular albatross and some theatrics at the immensely popular Stadium Hole. Amongst all of this, Craig managed to trump an extremely talented field to become a deserving winner of the Stonehaven Cup.”