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"It looked like it was gonna go for miles - and then it went nowhere!"
Little-known South Australian leftie Nick Cullen played a sensational bunker shot at the 72nd hole to edge out two-time defending champion Adam Scott by a shot for the Australian Masters at Metropolitan in Melbourne.
“That was probably the best shot of my life,” was Cullen’s description.
“I’ve had a pretty poor record this year, missing eight cuts by a shot.”
But not this time. He joins such illustrious winners of the past like six-time champion Greg Norman, three-time champion Craig Parry, and overseas winners like Colin Montgomerie, Bernard Langer, Gene Littler, and Justin Rose.
Scott went so close with his final-round 68, that included three birdies and a bogey going out, and coming home.
The world number two rimmed the cup, also at the final hole, with a 45-foot putt that would have forced a play-off at 9-under with Cullen.
But take nothing away from the gutsy way the 30-year-old Cullen, brother of former Australian off spinner Dan Cullen, overcame enormous pressure from Scott, who shared 8-under with James Nitties, and Josh Younger.
Overnight leaders Paul Spargo and Michael Wright both fell away on the final day – Spargo shot 73 to finish at 7-under, Wright a nightmare 8-over 80, to finish 1-over.
The continued good form of the three amateurs who made the cut deserve a salute in such elite company.
Luke Herbert (18) finished 5-under after rounds of 75, 70, 65, 73.
Todd Sinnott (22), finished 3-under with 67, 71, 77, 70, while 16-year-old Ryan Ruffles also finished at 3-under with 75, 68, 72, 70.
We can look forward to seeing the talented trio stamp themselves on the bright Australian golfing scene.
"It looked like it was gonna go for miles - and then it went nowhere!"
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