AUSSIE BLIZARD SCORES FIRST VICTORY AS A PROFESSIONAL

Australian Rohan Blizzard, winner of the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links in 2008 when he was still an amateur, has scored his first victory since turning professional.
Blizard, from New South Wales, today won the John Hughes Geely/ Nexus Risk Services West Australian Open in dramatic fashion at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
The former Australian Amateur champion was a surprise winner following one of the most dramatic finales in the history of the event.
Entering the clubhouse at 10-under par, Blizard was tied for first with three other equal leaders in Matt Jager, Matt Stieger and Heath Reed still out on course.
“I was at best expecting a play-off so I was ready to go over to the range and hit some balls, but I saw them change the leaderboard so I didn’t have to do that in the end,” said Blizard who had rounds of 67, 70, 74 and 67 over a total of 278 over the par-72 course.
What Blizard didn’t see was the co-leaders self-destructing on the 17th hole.
Heath Reed triple bogeyed 17, Steiger double bogeyed and Jager bogeyed sending the trio back down the leaderboard.
Come the 18th hole Jager was the only person still in contention but needed an eagle to force a play-off.
In the end Jager managed to get up and down for par, handing 27 year old Blizard his first professional title by two shots from Jager (69-69-67-75), Ashley Hall (70-67-73-70) and David McKenzie (69-70-71-70).
“I was watching the leaderboard all day, I got off to a good start on the front nine so I knew I was in with a chance going into the back nine but I thought I probably had to have one better which was lucky for me I guess.”
“But I’m ecstatic. My first professional victory is a big thing and I’ll always remember that.”
Crowd favourite Jager finished in equal second at 8-under par alongside Ashley Hall and David McKenzie.
Reed finished a further shot back at 7-under.
Daniel Nisbet finished as the highest ranked amateur at 5-under par.