Adam Scott was the overwhelming favorite to close out the Australian Open on Sunday at the Victoria Golf Club. The former world’s No. 1 and a major champion held a one-shot lead and there was a massive experience gap between him and Adrian Meronk.
Meronk had just one DP World Tour win on his resume but that didn’t stop him from firing a final round 66 and he blew past Scott to claim the men’s title. He finished 14-under par and Scott struggled over his final round, closing with a two-over par 72 that left him five shots behind Meronk at nine-under par.
Meronk closed out the win in style with a closing eagle at the par five 18th.
“I’m super excited and to finish like that on the 18th hole is just unreal,” said Meronk, who was four over after 16 holes on day one. “I’m so grateful, thank you for all the support and I enjoyed this week so much.” The win will move Meronk into the world’s top 50 which should score him an invite to the 2023 Masters.
Aussie Min Woo Lee closed with a 69 and finished solo third at eight-under.
On the women’s side, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai started the final round a shot behind South Korea’s Jiyai Shin. With windy conditions, the women struggled and although she was three-over for her final 18 holes (73), Buhai’s 12-under par total edge Shin by a shot as Shin shot 75 to finish solo second. Aussie Hannah Green (74) was solo third at 10-under par.
The men’s and women’s competition were played concurrently. Both fields played the same courses and total prize money was equal for both.
On Sunday, Buhai had opened up a three-shot lead at the turn but dropped shots on the 10th, 14th and 16th before she bounced back with a birdie at the 17th.
Buhai, who earlier this year won the Women’s Open, had husband Dave on the bag this week and is now looking forward to getting her trophies home. “I obviously haven’t been able to go back to South Africa, so very much looking forward to that,” she said. “My home club, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington are having an evening on December 15 to celebrate and I think then it will only really hit me what I’ve been able to achieve and now to be able to add this one too, I think it’s going to be a double celebration.”
Aussie Open Women’s Scoreboard:
Thriston Lawrence Gets Early Christmas Gift At South African Open:
South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence should probably write a thank-you note to Frenchman Clement Sordet for the early Christmas gift at the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate outside Johannesburg.
Lawrence and Sordet were locked in a tight, head-to-head battle down the stretch at the South African Open Sunday afternoon. Both were 16-under par for the tournament through 70 holes.
At the par three 17th, Lawrence got up and down for par from just off the fringe while Sordet had a three-footer to keep things tied up. Call it the announcer’s curse. The DP World Tour telecast analyst praised Sordet for his “wonderful flowing stroke” with the putter for the round. Right on cue, Sordet pushed the putt and took bogey to fall a shot behind Lawrence.
On the closing par five 18th, Sordet’s drive found a fairway bunker and forced him to lay-up while Thirston found the fringe of the green in two, just 18 feet from the hole.
Sordet’s third gave him some hope, he had 10 feet for birdie and Lawrence’s putt left him three feet shy of the hole. Sordet could shrink the hole if he made his birdie. He didn’t and course, Lawrence missed the short birdie putt but tapped in for his third DP World Tour win.
“It felt all easy going through the round and then golf happened at the end,” Lawrence said afterward. “Clement was playing really well, I was playing well then made a few mistakes, missed them on the wrong sides and couldn’t score from there.
“I managed to get it done and I’m really pleased.”
South African Open Scoreboard:
