Warrnambool's Leishman snatches PGA championship

MARC Leishman was cel-ebrating with family and friends last night after winning the Victorian PGA Championship at Sanctuary Lakes with a final-round 65.The win came after master-blaster Kurt Barnes self-destructed on the difficult finishing stretch yesterday. Barnes led by two shots with just three holes remaining but bogeyed all of them to hand the title to a relieved Leishman, who closed with a seven-under-par 65. The 24-year-old Warrnambool golfer described his one-shot win from fellow Victorian Cameron Percy and Barnes as one of the biggest of his brief professional career."It was a good, fun week and it was good to sneak over the line," Leishman told The Standard after rounds of 67, 68, 69, 65 for a total of 19-under-par 269."I'm just really glad to win it because it's in my home state and I'd been placed in it the last few years."Percy closed late with a fourth-round 63 to finish with an 18-under 270.Overnight leader Barnes crashed spectacularly with bogeys on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes after leading Leishman by two shots after playing the 15th.The last of Leishman's six birdies came on the 15th hole - he also bogeyed the second and eagled the fourth - but it was enough to maintain contact with the leader. "I sort of put a bit of pressure on him and he struggled a bit," Leishman said."It's a 72-hole tournament and you have to play the 72 holes."The victory followed a one-month break from golf over the Christmas-New Year period, which Leishman said helped his outlook."I suppose being fresh," he said."I drove the ball well all week. I was just getting better as the week went on with my ball striking."Leishman earned $16,500 for the win, which will help cover travel costs in coming weeks as he contests British Open qualifying in Sydney, the New Zealand PGA Championship, the Moonah Classic on the Mornington Peninsula and the Johnny Walker Classic in India.Last night he was savouring his fifth professional tournament triumph and first in his home state. The list includes the Southern Classic twice, Cairns Classic and Jisan Open in Korea.There to help him celebrate were his parents Paul and Peleita, sister Kristy White, aunt Anne Papst, uncle Ray Papst and cousin Abby Papst, as well as friends and supporters from Warrnambool and district.As well as success in Von Nida Tour events, last year Leishman's consistent form in national tournaments earned him a top-10 finish in the Australasian PGA Tour's Order of Merit.The highlight of his round yesterday was eagling the 520-metre par-five fourth hole for the third time. He was on the green in two after hitting a driver and four iron, then sank an eight-metre right-to-left putt over a ridge."It was a good way to get the round started."Understandably, Barnes was devastated to lose after seemingly having the action-packed tournament at his mercy. Two eagles and four birdies in a nine-hole stretch from the fourth to the 12th holes looked to have sealed the deal for the 26-year-old from the Hunter Valley in NSW. But that was before he overshot the 16th green with a wedge, three-putted the 17th and plugged his approach with a mid-iron in a greenside bunker on the final hole. "I can't explain what happened," said Barnes, who closed with a 67 despite suffering such a late meltdown. "That's golf. It's not the first time this kind of thing has happened and it won't be the last either. "The key for me is to take the positives out of the week and that's exactly what I'll do." Barnes eventually settled for a second-place tie with Percy at 18-under-par. Percy, a 33-year-old from Warragul and former winner of the tournament, shot a brilliant final round of 63 - one shot from the course record set by Barnes last year - but eventually ran out of holes. Queenslander Shane Tait finished outright fourth.Leishman is considered by many good judges to be one of the most promising young golfers in Australia. With AAP