The emerging DP World Tour player captured the Stonehaven Cup in style with an eagle at the 72nd hole in a closing four-under-par 66 at Victoria Golf Club on Sunday.

Meronk denied his self-confessed childhood idol Adam Scott a second Open trophy, 13 years after his first, as Australia's third-round leader finished with a disappointing two-over 74.

“To be honest, I really wanted to play with him this week,” Meronk said of his playing partner. “He was always my role model growing up, so it was super cool to play with him.

“Obviously I didn’t really want to focus on him, just focused on my game, hitting good shots. But to beat him in the final group in front of the big crowds in Australia is just quite unbelievable experience and I’m super proud, that’s for sure.”

Min Woo Lee (69) was outright third a further shot back at nine-under to secure a not insignificant consolation prize of a ticket to next year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Adam Scott was valiant on Sunday as he chased a second Stonehaven Cup, but ultimately came up short. PHOTO: Adrian Logue.

The top-three finishers not otherwise exempt gained entry to the 151st Open.

Meronk and Scott had already qualified, leaving Spaniard Alejandro Canizares (64) and Lee's fellow West Australian Haydn Barron (68) to snare the other two spots after sharing fourth at seven under.

But the day belonged to Meronk.

Six months after winning the Irish Open to become the first Pole to triumph on the DP World Tour, Meronk joined legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Scott in etching his name on the Stonehaven Cup.

“I just looked how old this trophy is. It’s just incredible. I’m very proud and excited to be joining that company,” Meronk said of the Stonehaven Cup and its honour roll.

Meronk started the day one shot behind Scott and relishing the chance to duel with a player he idolised growing up.

With a birdie on the first and bogey from Scott, Meronk seized the lead on a two-stroke swing.

Scott briefly regained a share of the lead with successive birdies on holes 4 and 5.

But Meronk refused to relinquish his advantage for a second time after Scott posted back-to-back bogeys at 9 and 10.

Scott offered no excuses, only regrets after enduring yet another near miss.

“I just looked how old this trophy is. It’s just incredible. I’m very proud and excited to be joining that company." - Adrian Meronk.

Since winning his national championship for the only time at NSW in 2009, Australia's only Masters champion has finished runner-up three times – to Rory McIlroy in 2013, Matt Jones in 2015 and now.

“It was okay, but never really got it going when I needed to get it going. Adrian played great,” Scott said.

"On Thursday, I didn't think I'd make the cut this week so it was nice to be able to turn it around.

"I would have loved to have played just a little bit better today, being a bit tighter with a couple of shots and maybe put the pressure on a bit more at the end.

"But the costly part for me today it was (holes) 7, 8 and 9. I didn't get it up and down on either of those three holes and I fell three behind.

"Even one or two of them up and down and it would have been quite a tight contest."

Lee threatened to turn the two-way battle into a three-man tussle with an eagle two after driving the par-4 1st to briefly reduce the deficit to two strokes.

But he never recovered after ruefully missing a birdie putt from inside a metre on the 5th, then taking bogey on No.8 to slip four shots behind Meronk heading to the turn.

For Meronk, he planned a fairly low key celebration with his girlfriend’s cousins who conveniently live just three minutes away from the clubhouse at Victoria Golf Club.

“We’re probably going to go to the city, have some dinner, maybe a couple of drinks and enjoy Melbourne,” Meronk said of his Sunday evening plans. “We’re staying till Tuesday so we’ll probably do something tonight.”