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SYDNEY - Craig Parry has added the missing link to his resume, finally winning an Australian Open golf title at his 24th attempt.
The 41-year-old from Sydney fired a closing round three-under-par 69 to finish on 11-under at The Australian course here, one shot ahead of West Australian Nick O'Hern (70), young Australian Won Joon Lee (66) and American Brandt Snedeker (69).
Already boasting 12 titles on home soil from his 22 triumphs worldwide, Parry had come close to winning his national championship, including a playoff loss to John Morse in 1990.
Seventeen years later at the same venue, Parry can finally add his name alongside those of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman on the prestigious Stonehaven Cup.
Parry looked anything like the Open winner when he started with a first-round two-over 74 but a course record-equalling 64 in the second round ignited his charge and closing rounds of 70 and 69 were enough to claim the A$315,000 winner's cheque.
Asked what he was going to do now, Parry jokingly said "retire" before admitting how much the victory meant to him.
"This has obviously meant a lot to me for a long time," he said.
"(In) '84 I was leading amateur and Tom Watson was the champion.
"I've been close a few times, runner-up a couple of times and top three about eight times and just could never get there.
"I've always loved The Australian golf course, it's been a great golf club for me, winning the New South Wales Open here (in 1987) and when it was coming back here I got pretty excited.
"I came out a few weeks ago with my manager and played the golf course and it put me in good stead for today."
Overnight leaders Robert Allenby (75) and James Nitties (73) failed to fire, leaving Parry, O'Hern, Lee, Snedeker and Stuart Appleby to battle it out for the title.
O'Hern, Appleby and Nitties all had a chance to force a playoff if they could eagle the final hole, but none could achieve the feat, with O'Hern coming closest as his putt for three slid just left of the hole.
After a clutch four-metre par putt on No.17 maintained his one shot advantage, Parry then had the luxury of a two-putt finish on No.18 to secure his first tournament victory in two years.
His career was supposedly winding down. He spent the past season in Japan to be closer to his family after years travelling the United States and Europe.
But the man known as Popeye has now earned himself starts in next year's British Open and US Open.
While he plans to return to defend his Australian Open title next year, Parry is also ready to pass the baton to the next generation of Australian players.
New Zealand golfers were never in contention in the Australian Open.
Four of 10 New Zealanders made the second-round cut but none figured prominently, with Steve Alker the best, eight shots behind Parry.
Alker closed with a one-under-par 71 to share 26th place on 285.
He finished two clear of Michael Long, who shot 69 to be 38th equal, while David Smail managed 71 to tie for 45th, and Brad Iles was tied for 52nd after his fourth round of 73.
- AAP, NZPA
