McKechnie wins NSW Open

Leigh McKechnie, 36, has won the New South Wales Open following a dramatic final day at The Vintage, Hunter Valley.
With rounds of 70-72-70-69, McKechnie finished one stroke ahead of James Nitties to record his first victory on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“I am just delighted. With the conditions the way they were today I knew I had a chance, but to actually win is unbelievable.”
Coming down the stretch McKechnie was oblivious to the drama that was unfolding around him.
“I had no idea of what was happening. I saw my name on the leaderboard when I was on the 15th but I didn’t see any numbers.”
At this stage overnight leader Jason Norris was struggling in the difficult conditions of heat and wind, dropping eight shots through the front nine to throw the tournament wide open.
Norris, the 2007 champion, finished the final round eight over to be even par for the championship and in a tie for fourth position, along with New Zealander Mark Purser.
Beginning the final round seven shots in arrears, McKechnie made a steady start before making birdie on the toughest hole on the course, the par 3, 8th holing his shot from the greenside trap.
With birdies on three of the last six holes, including on the 18th, McKechnie had posted the score to catch with Nitties still out on the course.
Nitties had his chances after an eagle on the 14th, followed by a birdie on the 15th to draw level with McKechnie. However a bogey on the par 3, 17th effectively meant he had to birdie the 18th to force a play-off.
When his approach into the 18th came up short and his putt missed, McKechnie’s wait had come to the end and he’d become the NSW Open Champion.
Scott Arnold fired the day’s low round with a 5-under, 66 to record another top-5 finish after finishing in a tie for runner-up last week at the Cellarbrations NSW PGA Championship at Wollongong.
Arnold’s 66 will have to go down as one of the rounds of the year and at one stage the 24-year-old took the lead despite being the 5th group out for the day.
Arnold will go into the Australian Open starting on Thursday, on his home course, with plenty of confidence.
By winning the NSW Open, McKechnie guarantees his place in the Australian Open field this week and the Australian PGA Championship in Coolum in a fortnight.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
All players from Australia unless stated
281 Leigh McKechnie 70 72 70 69.
282 James Nitties 65 68 73 76.
283 Scott Arnold 66 80 71 66.
284 Jason Norris 70 71 64 69, Mark Purser (NZ) 66 73 74 71.
286 Rohan Blizard 71 70 67 78, Andrew Bonhomme 68 71 74 73, Siumon Furneaux 70 73 70 73, Brad McIntosh 70 72 71 73, Craig Scott 67 70 76 73.