AUSTRALIAN PGA:GREG CHALMERS overcame Robert Allenby and Marcus Fraser in a play-off to add the Australian PGA Championship to his recent Australian Open win.
The 38-year-old, who took the Stonehaven Cup for a second time a fortnight ago, will now head to the Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne next month for the Australian Masters with the chance to match Allenby’s 2005 heroics when he won all three events.
The trio finished tied at 12 under par at Coolum and then had to wait more than 30 minutes for the final groups to complete their rounds.
It was Chalmers who showed the most composure at the 18th when he safely found the fairway with his tee shot before two-putting for par to take the Joe Kirkwood Cup.
“I was surprised to see that par was good enough, I thought we were going to have to birdie this hole but that’s how it goes sometimes in play-offs,” Chalmers said.
“I felt fine on the tee shot but the putt was the hardest thing.
“This Australian PGA Championship has such a rich history and to have won it now, coupled with the Australian Open, I’m over the moon.”
Fraser dunked his tee shot in the water and eventually settled for a bogey after failing to chip in from the greenside bunker, while Allenby sent his drive way to the right, found the heart of the green with his third but was unable to sink a 12-foot putt for par.
On a final day when fortunes fluctuated wildly and overnight leader Kim Kyung-tae, Matthew Giles and Aaron Baddeley all spent time at the top of the leaderboard, Chalmers produced an impressive 67 before prevailing.
Allenby rolled in a long putt at the last for a 68 to ensure extra holes would be needed and then Fraser holed a monster effort to return a 69 and clinch his place in the play-off.
Chalmers went out in 35 with two birdies and a bogey and picked up further shots at the 10th, 12th, 16th and 17th to capitalise on his struggling rivals.
Darren Clarke finished in a disappointing 54th place following a closing 70 – Saturday’s poor round of 79 effectively ruling him out of contention.
