The Heritage Classic always looked set for an epic conclusion, and it didn't disappoint, with James Conran triumphing by a single shot to secure his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory.
STORY BY PATRICK TAYLOR
Tied with Victorian Nathan Page coming down to the last hole, Conran, from Orange in New South Wales, hit a brilliant wedge approach to inside a metre and tapped in for a final birdie, securing a tournament-winning 22-under-par total.
It was a closing 7-under 65 for Conran, who's the son of long-time tour pro Steve Conran, and he finished second in last year’s PNG Open. Page's 67, however, couldn't quite get it done in front of his home crowd.
Webex Players Series Perth champion Jordan Doull finished in solo third at 19-under, while a number of players made a charge on the final day to surge into the top five.
In the group of four tied at 18-under, both Andrew Martin and Anthony Quayle made a serious run on day four, with Martin managing to card a 7-under 65, even with a triple-bogey.
The 54-hole leader, Lachlan Barker, struggled to keep the momentum rolling on Sunday, eventually signing for a 1-over 73 and a share of 12th place.
Playing in the final group on Sunday, Conran made his intentions known early with a birdie on the first hole. The problem was, so did both of his playing partners.
This remained a theme for the day, with he and Page trading blows for much of the front nine; Conran's chip-in for eagle on the par-5 fourth being the highlight.
Conran wouldn't make another birdie until the 18th, but with further eagles at 12 and 15, he suddenly held a two-shot lead with three holes to play.
"After the first hole, we all just put it in the middle of the fairway, hit it within 10 feet of the hole, and all made birdies. I knew those two came to play today. They kept me going," Conran said.
Moments after rolling in his third eagle of the day, Conran hit a wayward tee shot on 16 and couldn't get up and down out of the left greenside trap to save par.
With his lead cut to one, the New South Welshman then failed to find the green on the par-3 17th, and when that par putt slid by, his lead was gone just as quickly as it had come.
With the adrenaline - and likely anger - pumping, Conran piped his drive over the corner of the dog-leg 18th, and with 117 metres left, almost holed his gap wedge. When Page's four-metre birdie chance to force a playoff slid by, Conran was home with the biggest win of his career.
"If you told me that at the start of the week, I would've told you you're lying or crazy," the 26-year-old said of being the Heritage Classic champion.
"I mean, I played really nicely every day, and it just worked out well this week."
Having started a university degree and deciding it wasn't for him, Conran is relieved to have gained winner’s category Tour status, which helps secure his future for the next few years.
"I started Commerce and Accounting, but it lasted about half a semester," he said.
"It hasn't really sunk in, to be honest yet, but it's just nice."
"A bit more stability for the next couple of years. I can actually make a bit of a schedule instead of sort of not knowing when I'm going to play the next tournament."
Queenslander Elvis Smylie officially wrapped up the Order of Merit on Sunday, bouncing back from a lacklustre third round with a 5-under 67 to finish equal 53rd.
The 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season finishes with The National Tournament, starting on Thursday.
