Golf prodigy Jiyai Shin can breathe easy after denying Ashleigh Buhai her second Australian Open title in the final at Kingston Heath.
Shin was on the verge of a record victory before going on to win by two shots with a 17-under-par 274 as hopes of a first home victory in a decade quickly faded on Sunday.
The former South Korean World No.1 had led by as many as seven shots in the final round but had to hole a seven-foot putt at the last to close with a round of three-under 70 and avoid an even more worrying finish.
Seeking to become the first player in the tournament’s 50-year history to complete a hat-trick of wins, Buhai had a 12-foot birdie attempt on the 72nd hole to put the pressure on Shin.
But the South African kept the trophy hidden as Shin, 36, added a 65th title to his impressive CV.
“Now I can breathe,” said Shin.
“I’ve only had one Australian Open trophy so I’m really excited about the next one, especially on this golf course at Kingston Heath.
“I lost in 2008 to Karrie Webb so now I feel much better.”
Also a two-time British Open champion, Shin made his debut at the Patricia Bridges Bowl in 2013.
Fellow 17-year-old Hyojin Yang finished third at seven under, 10 shots behind the winner and eight behind the runner-up, after posting a final-round 72.
Hannah Green and LPGA Tour star Grace Kim were leading Australia in a tie for fourth at six under.
But it was a day to forget for Green, who started just two shots behind Shin and was hoping to cap off a great season with a fourth title of the year.
Instead, Green finished with a shaky six-over 79 as the day – and the spoils – belonged to Shin.
With more brilliance, Shin jumped ahead by six shots even before the turn.
He collected two birdies and an eagle on the fourth hole to move to 17 under as Green fell.
The West Australian bogeyed the fourth and sixth holes to fall seven shots behind but the worst was to come as Green triple-bogeyed the seventh.
After dragging his shot to the left of the tree, Green had to get his ball out of the fairway on the sixth before sinking his way into the bunker and three-putt.
He never recovered, leaving only Buhai to challenge Shin to the ground.
“Overall I’m very happy with the way I tried to fight there. Obviously, I was struggling and I probably could have been worse,” Green said.
“I just felt like, I can say that some players get lucky bumps, but I felt like I didn’t have a lucky break.
“So, we’re still happy with the result.”
Buhai closed the gap to two thanks to five birdies on the back-nine and a nervy three-putt from Shin, before the Korean great held on.
“This is golf,” Shin said.
“If I got a few shots, I’m still trying to focus on my game because on this golf course with this weather, nobody knows until the end.
“I just tried to touch it but some holes work, some don’t – but I’m still holding my cup.”
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