Pampling tops Fraser in playoff Down Under

Nov 30, 2008 - 8:01 AM MELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) -- Rod Pampling won the Australian Masters on Sunday, edging Marcus Fraser on the third playoff hole at Huntingdale Golf Club.

The Australians had finished atop the final round leaderboard locked at 12-under-par 276.

Fraser carded a brilliant final round 7-under-par 65, which included just one bogey, while Pampling also signed for a 65 despite missing birdie chances at his last three holes that would have sealed the win.

As Fraser sat on the practice range, Pampling had three opportunities to claim the victory in regulation but after missing a chance at 16, pushed a six-foot birdie putt at 17 wide right.

At the last, the 39-year-old took his time to line up a 25-foot championship putt, but again missed his chance as the ball drifted left of the hole.

Both players missed long birdie chances on the first trip down the 18th, which saw just one birdie in regulation, before Fraser found rough off the tee and sand with his second on the return trip down the 18th.

Pampling found the middle of the fairway, but his approach failed to clear a bank at the front of the green and rolled back onto the fringes.

After Fraser chipped to the back of the green, Pampling put the pressure on after getting to within a foot, but Fraser converted from 10 feet to ensure a third playoff hole.

Fraser again missed the green into the 18th. After putting past the hole up a steep hill at the back of the green, he missed a par putt and was forced to settle for a bogey to open the door for Pampling.

Pampling did not miss the opportunity as he claimed his first Masters green jacket with a simple three-foot par putt to claim his first Australasian Tour victory since the 1999 Canon Challenge and maiden European Tour triumph.

Joint overnight leader Robert Allenby, a two-time Masters champion, was in contention heading into the final holes at 11-under, but was forced to rescue a double-bogey five at the 15th as he holed a 20-foot putt after chipping out of a greenside bunker and finished alone in third at 9-under after a 73.

South Africa's Tim Clark (67), Australia's Nathan Green (70) and Sweden's Alexander Noren (68) finished tied for fourth at 8-under.

Australia's David McKenzie (68) finished seventh at 7-under, while joint overnight leader Michael Sim finished seven shots off the pace following a 77.