American Ryggs Johnston has defied jetlag and wild climate to clinch the Australian Open title by three photographs at Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Course on Sunday night.
Johnston’s world rating of 953rd is ready to plummet after the 24-year-old topped the sector with a closing rating of –18.
Native hopes Curtis Luck (-15), Marc Leishman (-14) and Jasper Stubbs (-14) rounded out the rostrum.
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Ryggs Johnston poses with the Stonehaven Cup after victory on day 4 of the Australian Open 2024. Darrian Traynor by way of Getty Pictures
With the outcome, the highest three finishers earn a spot at July’s The Open at Royal Portrush.
Having attended the College of Arizona, Johnston solely made his DP World Tour debut on the Australian PGA Championship final week.
Along with his first skilled win, Johnston will return to Montana with over $295,000 in prizemoney.
Fellow Aussie Lucas Herbert started the final round tied for the lead with Johnston at -14 earlier than crashing out on the again 9 to droop to share equal fifth on -12.
Herbert recorded back-to-back lip outs for consecutive bogeys at 13 and 14 in addition to a bogey at 18 for a spherical of 74.
Johnson had Luck, Leishman, Stubbs and Harrison Crowe in scorching pursuit for a lot of the ultimate spherical however saved his composure to go -4 on the match’s closing day.
Luck appeared the most probably to leapfrog Johnston however completed with bogeys on the closing two holes to quash his possibilities.
Ryggs Johnston tees off on the second gap on day 4 of the Australian Open 2024. Darrian Traynor by way of Getty Pictures
The rookie’s stellar efficiency was headlined by an enormous birdie putt on the par 3 fifteenth and an eagle on the par 5 first. He was then unflappable on the again 9 with three birdies as his rivals stumbled and fell.
Defending champion Joaquin Niemann additionally tumbled down the leaderboard after surging into rivalry with an -8 spherical on Saturday.
Fellow Aussies Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee entered the clubhouse early on Sunday after each fell off the tempo. The pair completed the match with scores of -3 and -5 respectively.
Earlier, former ladies’s world No.1 Jiyai Shin hit an incredible shot from the crowd on her way to securing her second Australian Open crown.
