Golf: Iles makes it into top six, Allenby gets triple crown

Brad Iles

Brad Iles capped an impressive introduction to professional golf when he finished a meritorious sixth at the $A1.2 million ($1.29 million) Australian Masters in Melbourne yesterday.

In just his second professional tournament, the Bay of Plenty golfer carded a final-round four-under 68 at the Huntingdale Golf Course to finish on nine-under 279.

Iles, 22, mixed one bogey and a birdie with seven pars on the opening nine, but then produced birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 17th to finish sixth, equal with Peter Lonard. It followed his earlier scores of 68, 69 and 74.

Robert Allenby became the first player to win the "triple crown" of Australian golf in the same season when he beat American Bubba Watson.

Allenby, an Australian who won the Australian Open at Moonah Links two weeks ago and PGA last week at Coolum in Queensland, beat the American on the first playoff hole after the pair had tied for 17-under 271.

Allenby two-putted to make par on the par-four 18th then watched as Watson's first putt slid past the right hand side of the hole then the second attempt lipped out, giving the 34-year-old the title.

Watson, who started in third overnight on 12-under, tore up the Huntingdale course with a mix of eight birdies and three bogeys to post a five-under 67 to force his way into the playoff.

Allenby missed out on winning the tournament on the final hole in regulation when his 9m putt for birdie came up short. Nick O'Hern, who held the lead for 65 of the 72 holes, faltered over the last seven with four bogeys and finished two strokes further back on 15-under-par in third.

New Zealander Gareth Paddison tied for ninth on seven-under 281 after his 70 yesterday.

- NZPA