US’s Varner wins first pro tourney

AMERICAN Harold Varner claimed his first professional victory at the Australian PGA Championship yesterday on the Gold Coast by two strokes.

Varner, 26, who lost in a three-way play-off in last year’s event, fired rounds of 65, 72, 67 and 65 for a 19-under 269.

He prevailed in the final round with nine birdies in a seven-under 65 to beat Australian overnight leader Andrew Dodt to win the European Tour co-sanctioned tournament at the Royal Pines Resort.

Dodt, who led for three rounds, finished with a three-under par 69 to take outright second at 17-under 271.

World number seven and 2013 Augusta Masters champion Adam Scott carded his best round of the week, a five-under 67, to finish in third place with 15-under 273.

Varner came closest to winning his first top-level pro event when runnerup after a three-way play-off with Dylan Frittelli and eventual 2015 champion Nathan Holman a year ago.

“I just wanted to find a way to birdie every hole,” Varner said. “After last year, it feels good to come back and finish it off.”

Varner, ranked number 184 in the world, posted four top-10 finishes last season with more than $1.3-million (about R18-million) in prize money.

But he said none of that compared to his breakthrough Australian victory.

“Obviously with top-10s you get money, but it’s just hard to win. I don’t care where you tee it up, this is pretty special,” he said.

The excellent win yesterday also gave him entry to the WGC’s Brigestone Invitational next year in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, as well as a two-year exemption onto the European Tour.

Varner, starting two shots behind overnight leader Dodt, hit the front on the eighth, but then bogeyed the 14th to go back into a tie for the lead.

However, birdies on the 15th and 17th edged him clear despite Dodt going bogey-free and three under in the final round.

Australian Ashley Hall was fourth on 14-under with compatriot Brett Rumford fifth on 10-under. — AFP