ralian teenager Blake Proverbs has won an invitation to compete in a European Tour event after capturing the China Amateur Open.
Proverbs held off a spirited challenge from compatriot Kevin Yuan for a one-stroke victory on Sunday in the flagship tournament in China for amateur golfers.
The 18-year-old from Queensland receives a start in the 2015 Volvo China Open, which has been co-sanctioned by the European Tour since 2003.
Proverbs carded a final-round 71 to finish at 2-over-par 290(76-72-71-71) on the tricky Greg Norman course at Mission Hills Golf Club in Dongguan, southeast China.
After finishing third last year, Proverbs was delighted to get his hands on the China Amateur Open trophy. “I’m so excited. I tried to win last year, but I’ve done the job this time. Although I made two bogeys in the beginning, I just played safely because the course is tough.
“Now I’m looking forward to the China Open as I’ve never played on the European Tour.”
In the women’s competition, Elizabeth Elmassian from New South Wales claimed her maiden international title by two shots. She fired three consecutive rounds of 4-over 76 for a 12-over-par tally on the Norman layout.
“To win the China Amateur Open means everything for me. I played very well apart from the 17th hole (where she made a quadruple bogey). I just stuck to my strategy,” said Elmassian, who receives an invitation to play in the 2014 China Women’s Open in December.