Brazel, from Lismore, started the week ranked 480th in the world ranking but entered the final day at Hong Kong Golf Club tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Spanish Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello.

At one point on the back nine there were six players tied for the lead but Brazel held off a group with 11 European Tour victories between them, and an eight-foot putt on the 72nd hole sealed a closing 68 and a 13 under par total.

Cabrera Bello had birded the 16th and 17th to set up a grandstand finish down the last but he could only make a par and finish 12 under as Brazel's incredible approach laid the foundation for just the second birdie of the day on the closing hole.

Queensland’s Andrew Dodt and England's Tommy Fleetwood were then at 11 under, a shot clear of American David Lipsky and two ahead of Masters Champion Danny Willett.

Brazel was visibly emotional as he lifted the trophy and the 37-year-old credited a new set of clubs with helping get him over the line.

Sam Brazel plays his stunning approach into the final green to set up the winning birdie. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

“It's been a long time coming. I've been playing good but it's been a bit of a struggle with the old irons but I got set up with a new set of clubs, and it's all sort of turned around,” said Brazel, who joins a long list of Australians including Scott Hend, Greg Norman, Frank Phillips, Randall Vines, Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle to have won the title in its 57-year history.

“This is the fruit. I wouldn't say I got the shot into the last straight out of the middle but I'm pretty stoked where it finished, I'll tell you." – Sam Brazel.

“I think I still had some nerves on the first tee today, but I settled in pretty quickly today. It wasn't as bad as yesterday. I had a great playing partner in Rafa. I was stoked to play with him for the last two days. It was a thrill to be out there the last few days and I hope that continues and I have a lot more days like this in the future.

“I am really looking forward to getting over to Europe and playing on the European Tour. It will be a great privilege.”

FINAL LEADERBOARD

Brazel, who gains a full European Tour exemption for the next two years, is expected to surge into the top 150 in the world when the rankings are published on Monday.

His victory capped off a great day for the Aussies with Queensland’s Hend winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit despite his T51 finish in the co-sanctioned event.

Brazel is showered with champagne by Scott Hend after holing the winning putt. PHOTO: Arep Kulal/Getty Images.

Hend, who won the True Thailand Classic and Queen’s Cup and finished in the top-10 on three other occasions, became the first Australian to win the coveted Asian Tour OOM.

“It’s quite special. Obviously winning any Order of Merit anywhere is very special, and this will stay with me forever,” said Hend, who also became the fourth player to ever surpass US$1million in earnings in a single season.

“It’s just a culmination of a lot of years on the Asian Tour and coming so close and not getting over the line; it’s finally nice to reach the top and grab the trophy.

“I just managed to level it off and play really solid during the middle of the year and fortunately enough for me, I won a couple tournaments and I came in a couple top fives. So it was quite nice.

“It’s been a great year. I only missed out on one goal and that was obviously to get top-50 in the world and play the Masters next year. It was a hard task; I had to come second here or I had to win. All in all, it’s a very good year.”

FINAL STANDINGS: ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT

Hend’s nearest rival for the OOM was Victorian Marcus Fraser. Fraser finished T10 after closing in Hong Kong with a 66, but it was not enough to make up the $270,000 difference.

Meanwhile, Dodt, who finished second at the Australian PGA Championship last week, has moved to the top of the Race to Dubai standings as the European Tour now takes a break until the South African Open, which starts on January 12.