Pampling shoots course-record 61 at Australian Open

It was a remarkable final day, not least for the stunning, 10-under par 61 by Rod Pampling that smashed Spieth’s course record from a year ago and at one point, threatened to win the tournament for the Queenslander. “Hopefully I haven’t peaked yet, I know I can hit it better than I did today and if I can get a few more putts we’ll have a good day tomorrow”.

Starting Sunday’s final round at the Australian Golf Club with a three-shot lead, Jones closed with an eventful two-over-par 73 to just manage to hold on for victory over Spieth, who was the defending champion, and a charging Scott.

Like last year, when he birdied five of the last six holes to finish tied for second, his extraordinary late charge this year (he finished 4th) has allowed him to again claim one of the three spots available for next year’s British Open. “So I was lucky enough to do that”. It had looked like being a third day of frustration for Spieth in the crosswinds at the Australian Golf Club, especially after he dropped shots at three of his first four holes. The 36-year-old former world number one is trying to avoid finishing winless for the first season in his professional career.

It had shaped up as a two-way battle for the Stonehaven Cup on Sunday until Jones started bogey, double-bogey to immediately invite the chasing pack back into the tournament.

“We’re the ones who had the most holes remaining so we control it”, he said, “and for him to go back to whatever he was, 1 or 2 up on me at the time there, was really kind of a game changer”.

“But playing this golf course, the front 9 is the tough 9 for me”.

“To have my name on this trophy with like (Jack) Nicklaus, (Jack) Newton, Norman, all those guys, it’s a dream come true for me and it’s something that I can’t have taken away from me”.

I would have been pretty excited to be in the play off with him, it would have just added to it, ” said Spieth.

He ultimately finished in fourth after his course-record round. “Peter Dawson let me start the event off a year ago and it was fantastic to have that honour”, said Pampling.

Nick Cullen and Lincoln Tighe were tied for fifth at three under, a shot ahead of Terry Pilkadaris.