Gold Coast, Australia: Greg Chalmers staged a remarkable comeback to win the Australian PGA Championship after the longest-play-off in the history of the OneAsia Tour.
Chalmers capped an astonishing day by defeating defending champion Adam Scott at the seventh extra hole at RACV Royal Pines Resort to claim the Joe Kirkwood Cup and scoop the A$180,000 first prize.
World number three Scott bogeyed the 18th after Chalmers had earlier recorded an eight-under-par 64 to earn a place in the play-off alongside Scott and Wade Ormsby.
“It was an epic day, wasn’t it?” said Chalmers, who claimed his second Australian PGA Championship after previously winning in 2011. “I honestly thought there would be only a very slim chance I would be sitting here with all of the guys leading the tournament and doing well.
“But I got away to a fast start and was three-under through four. Things just progressed from there and I got a lot of momentum going and I birdied the holes you should birdie, the par-fives, and it turns out we’re in the play-off. I thought it was over when Wade [Ormsby] hit to within five feet but it turns out that just with tenacity and a little bit of luck here I am.”
Chalmers, who started the day in 14th place, rolled in his par putt from four feet to win the title after Scott three-putted the hole having earlier had several opportunities to win the tournament himself.
Scott, Chalmers and joint-overnight leader Ormsby all finished the tournament on 11-under par. But the South Australian was eliminated after the third time down the 18th when his par was not enough to stay alive as Scott and Chalmers birdied the hole.
All three players recorded pars in their first two play-off holes. After Ormsby’s elimination, Scott missed a birdie putt on the fourth trip to the green that would have won him the title after Chalmers recovered from a poor tee shot to save par and send the pair down the 18th for a fifth time.
Chalmers had earlier fired the round of the weekend when he recorded a 64. He embarked on a run of three straight birdies from the second to the fourth holes to reach the turn in 32 strokes and maintained that form on the back nine, taking another 32 blows to complete his round and move to the top of the standings.
Within minutes of Chalmers completing his round, Scott joined him on 11-under.
Ormsby maintained a steady challenge throughout the front nine, picking up his first shot of the day at nine to move to 11-under, only to drop shots at 11 and 13 to slip back before a birdie at 15 put him to within one shot of the lead.
He then drained a 30-foot putt at the last to earn a place in the play-off, only for Chalmers to hold his nerve and take the title in dramatic fashion.