Ahead of the biggest fortnight in Australian golf in more than a decade and with a star-studded gallery featuring Brisbane Lions star Kai Lohmann, Dolphins NRL star Jamayne Isaako and Brisbane Bullets big man Jacob Holt watching on, John’s 6-iron from a muddy lie on the par-5 15th set up an eagle from 12 feet that saw him draw level with 54-hole leader Zach Murray.

A birdie at the par-4 16th as Murray made bogey meant that John (66) had instituted a four-shot swing in the space of two holes, closing pars at 17 and 18 securing a two-shot win at 17-under from brilliant amateur Billy Dowling (66) with Murray third (70).

A closing 66 and tie for fourth ensured Haydn Barron’s entry into the Crown Australian Open, the West Australian only advised that he was in the field for next week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship on Friday night.

John was already exempt for both Aussie majors but now possesses winning confidence that can be maximised in two DP World Tour-co-sanctioned events worth a combined $4.5 million.

After almost 40mm of rain inundated the Kurrai Course on Sunday morning, Course Superintendent Peter Culross and his staff were forced to work frantically so that play could get underway in a shotgun start from 11:10am.

Any disruption made little impact on John, who made birdies at two and four before an eagle at the par-5 fifth gave him a two-stroke lead.

He and Murray would battle throughout the middle of the round before John mustered the courage to hit a shot on the fourth-to-last hole that would turn the tournament on its head.

It wasn’t quite Augusta pine straw, but when his tee shot went left of the fairway into a bare area with wood chips and debris washed through by the morning deluge, John sought a ruling on the loose impediments in and around his ball.

He then unleashed a 6-iron from 220 metres that will live long in Nudgee folklore.

“I had 220 to the flag and I knew I was pretty amped,” said John, who trailed Murray by two at the time.

“There was a lot of washed clippings and stuff that had sort of gathered up there. It was a bit of a run-off. I asked for a ruling and the clippings were loose impediments so I could get some sort of lie in there.

“It’s still in mud and still dirt and it was just one of those ones where you’re so amped and just got to flush it and keep moving on.

“I was like, if I’m going to win this tournament, I’ve got to hit this shot. And fortunately for me, I obviously was able to pull it off.”

A curling left-to-right birdie putt from 10 feet on 16 and Murray’s subsequent miss from slightly closer put John in position to close out his second Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory.

“Obviously I wanted Zach to make that putt, we were having a great battle the whole day,” said John, winner of The National Tournament in 2024.

“On 17 I had to swallow my pride a bit. I don’t think I’ve ever laid up on that hole. I said to my caddie Troy, it really hurt my soul having to do that.

“I kind of felt like my game was in a good enough spot that if at some point I can get one to go in the hole, it’ll turn towards me.”

As Barron had been added to the field for the BMW Australian PGA Championship on Friday night, Jay Mackenzie, Adam Bland and Doug Klein will now play at Royal Queensland Golf Club as the top three not otherwise exempt on the Mini Order of Merit after the Queensland PGA.

PLUS...

Barron back and loving being on the course after brutal health battle

Perth’s Haydn Barron is finally back on the fairways after a taxing six-month layoff. Earlier this year, he stepped away from the European HotelPlanner Tour because of gastrointestinal problems and a sacroiliac back injury.

As he is not yet exempt for the Crown Australian Open, Barron is now guaranteed a spot at Royal Melbourne in two weeks’ time.

“I was seeing a lot of stuff online about the Mini Order of Merit and how close it was and whatnot,” said Barron.

“Went out there today and tried to play it a little bit like a Monday qualifier. Start again and just go as deep as I can.

“I haven’t looked at any of the scores, but I played really, really well. Probably one of the best rounds of the year, I’d say. So yeah, absolutely stoked with it.”