Australia’s Natham Holman savoured a triple victory treat in capturing the Australian PGA Championship at the Royal Pines course on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Not only did the Victorian-born Holman join some of the greats of Australian golf in adding his name to the Joe Kirkwood trophy but Holman secured a place into next year’s 145th Open Championship by finishing the top-ranked player on the 2015 Australasian Tour Order of Merit.
As well, Holman’s victory opened the door on the 24-year securing European Tour membership not only for 2016 but till the end of the 2017 season after injury this year spoilt the Woodlands Golf Club player from holding onto his European Tour card.
Also Holman earns a place in the 2016 WGC- Bridgstone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Holman won with a par at the first extra play-off hole after South African Dylan Frittelli and American Harold Varner III took bogeys.
Nathan Holman captures 2015 Australian PGA to also capture the 2015 Australasian Tour Order of Merit and thereby earn a place into next year’s Open Championship.
On another tough day at RACV Royal Pines Resort, Holman was two shots clear with two holes to play in regulation but bogeyed both to set the clubhouse target at level par.
Varner III and Frittelli were unable to find a birdie over the closing stretch, however, and at the first extra hole both missed the green as Australian Homan won with a par.
The 24 year old had started the day two off the lead, and his chances of victory had seemed remote after a double bogey on the opening hole.
But a birdie from five feet at the ninth was followed by further gains at the 12th and 15th as a closing 73 proved good enough to force extra holes.
Frittelli, his compatriot Zander Lombard and Varner III had shared the overnight lead on three under, but like Holman all three dropped early shots.
Strong winds and a parched links layout gradually whittled down the contenders, but when 22 year old Cameron Smith dropped three shots in his last six holes to finish on two over it left those in the final two pairings as the only serious challengers.
Frittelli had turned in 40, but the 25 year old took advantage of the long 12th and holed a birdie putt from off the green at the next to get back into the mix.
However, he came up short of the 14th green and bogeyed just as Holman was converting a five footer on the 15th to reach two under, and moments later Varner III saw his drive on the same hole find the water.
That led to a dropped shot which left Holman two clear, but he fired over the back of the 17th green with his approach and also dropped a shot at the last after coming up short of the putting surface to leave the door ajar.
Frittelli and Varner III didn’t exactly burst through it, but parred their way in to make the play-off – both missing lengthy putts to snatch victory on the 18th in regulation.
All three contenders missed the fairway at the first extra hole, but crucially it was Holman who found the green with his approach and, with neither opponent salvaging par, he tapped in to earn a €198,133 payday.
