DAY WINS MARATHON WORLD MATCHPLAY FINAL

Queensland’s Jason Day won his first World Golf Championship title, defeating Frenchman Victor Dubuisson at the fifth extra hole in a thrilling climax to the Accenture World Matchplay final.

Dubuisson, the World. No.30, was making his maiden appearance in the event and was looking to become the first French-born player to win on the PGA Tour. He won the last two holes – both with incredible par saves – to send the match into extra time but he lost to Day's par on the 23rd hole.

* Watch Dubuisson’s miraculous escapes here,

For more on Day’s victory, click here

FINALS LEADERBOARD

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Jason Day (Qld) def. Victor Dubuisson (Fra)  At 23rd hole

SEMI FINALS

Jason Day (Qld) def. Rickie Fowler (US)  3&2

Victor Dubuisson (Fra) def. Ernie Els (RSA)  1up

QUARTER FINALS

Jason Day (Qld) def. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)  2&1

Rickie Fowler (US)  def. Jim Furyk (US)  1up

Ernie Els (RSA)  def. Jordan Spieth (US)  4&2

Victor Dubuisson (Fra)  def. Graeme McDowell (NI)  1up

GRIFFIN BREAKS HIS HOME DUCK

Victorian Matthew Griffin had to endure am exciting three-hole play-off before claiming his first professional title on Australian soil at the Oates Vic Open.

On an exciting day for Australian golf where the future was clearly on show in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, Griffin captured his home state title in spectacular fashion at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.

It took Griffin three playoff holes to overcome New South Welshman Matthew Stieger, after the pair finished deadlocked at seven under, while 54-hole leader Brett Drewitt finished a shot back at six-under par.

For Griffin, who had previously won a PGA Tour of Australasia event in New Caledonia and two OneAsia tournaments in Asia, the emotion-charged fist pump as he sank the final birdie putt on his fourth trip up 18 said everything.

For the full story, click here

 

TOP-10 LEADERBOARD

*1. Matt Griffin (Vic)  74-71-68-68–281     $22,500

2. Matthew Stieger (NSW)  74-68-70-69–281        14,250

3. Brett Dewitt (NSW)  75-66-70-71–282   10,500

T4. Andrew Kelly (Vic)  7-77-70-67–284    6,825

T4. Terry Pilkadaris (Vic)  70-70-73-71–284          6,825

T6. Ray Beaufils (Qld)  76-70-74-65–285  4,443

T6. Adam Bland (SA)  75-71-73-66–285   4,443

T6. Paul Donahoo (Qld)  72-73-71-69–285           4,443

T6. Steven Jeffress (Qld)  72-74-70-69–285         4,443

T10. Peter O’Malley (NSW)  74-73-69-70–286       2,730

* Won on third play-off hole

To see the complete leaderboard, click here

LEE CRUISES TO CLAIM VIC OPEN

West Australian teenager Minjee Lee has been knocking on the door and she has finally done it in winning her first women’s professional golf tournament, the Oates Vic Open.

The current Australian amateur champion fired a final round six under 68 on the Beach course at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links to finish at the top of the leaderboard at 16 under and streak the field by six shots.

Lee, didn’t have it her own way, as she got off to a nervous start with a bogey, birdie, bogey run through the opening three holes. The large gallery following the last group unsettled the 17-year-old for the first few holes. However, after the 4th hole she settled into her round and started playing well and making birdies.

She birdied the 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th hole to take a commanding five shot lead into the back nine. A further two birdies at the 11th and 12th made the final six holes relatively stress free.

For the full story, click here

 

TOP-10 LEADERBOARD

1. Minjee Lee (WA)  73-70-68-68–279      amateur

2. Vikki Laing (Scot)  76-76-67-66–285    $22,500

3. Sarah Jane Smith (Qld)  69-71-74-73–287        15,000

T4. Sarah Kemp (NSW)  78-72-70-68–288            10,500

T4. Su-Hyun Oh (Vic)  72-77-67-72–288   amateur

T6. Nikki Campbell (ACT)  79-67-72-71–289         6,900

T6. Hannah Jun (US)  74-72-74-69–289    6,900

8. Lindsey Wright (NSW)  72-76-74-70–292          5,700

9. Emma De Groot (NSW)  76-75-72-70–293        5,025

10. Jessica Speechley (WA)  78-73-73-70–294     4,425

To see the complete leaderboard, click here

NORDQVIST CAPTURES LPGA THAILAND

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist overcame a star-studded leaderboard on the final day to shoot a four under 68 and claim her third career LPGA Tour title at the Honda LPGA Thailand.

The 26-year old finished the week at 15 under and two shots ahead of women’s World No.1 Inbee Park.

“I'm speechless to be honest,” said Nordqvist following the win. “It's been a couple years since I won. I've been working very hard. Had my ups and downs. Just couldn't be happier to be here. It was such a hard push on the back nine. Inbee kept making birdies and Michelle was playing great. I couldn't really breathe until the last putt, so obviously I could just let go on the last putt.”

Anna Nordqvist with the Honda LPGA trophy, nearly four years after her last LPGA victory. PHOTOl Getty Images

Nordqvist started the day with a four-shot lead over Park and American Michelle Wie but quickly made things interesting with a double bogey on the par 4 5th hole. Wie picked up her second birdie of the day on No.5 to cut the lead to one shot.

“Michelle played great; Inbee kept pushing me at the end,” said Nordqvist. “I just really had to stay strong.  Had a rough first couple holes, but kept playing good on the back.”

Nordqvist recovered with a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 7 to extend her lead back to two shots but was pressured by Park who picked up back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7 and 8. Park was bogey-free in her round of 66 on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough for the surging Nordqvist who carded five of her seven birdies on the back nine. The top-ranked player in the world said she was pleased with her performance in her first event of the 2014 season.

TOP-10 LEADERBOARD

1. Anna Nordqvist (Swe)  66-72-67-68–273          $225,000

2. Inbee Park (S.Kor)  71-71-67-66–275   139,933

3. Catriona Matthew (Scot)  76-71-65-65–277       101,512

4. Michelle Wie (US)  67-73-69-69–278    78,527

T5. Gerina Piller (US)  70-73-70-66–279   46,044

T5. Stacy Lewis (US)  71-69-73-66–279    46,044

T5. Yani Tseng (Tai)  72-73-66-68–279      46,044

T5. Lexi Thompson (US)  68-74-69-68–279          46,044

T5. Julieta Granada (Par)  71-68-71-69–279          46,044

10. Suzann Pettersen (Nor)  69-73-72-66–280       31,028

To view the full leaderboard, click here