Golf: Fox comes up trumps in Queensland

Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox today claimed his biggest win of his short professional career, taking out the $200,000 Jeep Pro Am at Royal Pines in Queensland.

After closing with a seven under par 65 to post a 15 under par total, Fox faced an agonising wait in the clubhouse to see if the score would be good enough.

It wasn't quite, with a three-way playoff eventuating, but Fox didn't let that phase him, making a birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to take the spoils.

"I really can't believe it,'' Fox said moments after the winning putt dropped. ``This is no doubt the biggest win of my career, and to do it by beating such a quality field really does help with my confidence heading into the Australasian summer.''

After Wellington's Gareth Paddison and Anthony Brown, who made birdie on his final hole, joined Fox on 15 under par at the completion of 72 holes, a good crowd surrounded the trio as they headed back to the 18th tee.

All three golfers found the fairway from the tee and it was still anyone's to win. Unfortunately for Paddison, an errant second shot found the back bunker and, while he played a great bunker shot, he had to settle for par.

Both Brown and Fox found the green in regulation and when Brown's lengthy birdie attempt came up short, it would be Fox with the chance to close it out. The Kiwi made the most of that chance and drained his put to be crowned the champion.

"Although I may not be heading to any overseas qualifying school this year, the win hear will certainly assist me financially, but more importantly mentally, as I try and secure my Australasian and One Asia tour card over the coming months,'' Fox said.