SYDNEY, Australia -- John Senden shot a closing 7-under 65 on Sunday, capped by a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th, to break out of a three-way tie for the lead and earn a one-stroke win in the Australian Open.
Senden, who won the John Deere Classic on the PGA TOUR in July -- his first win in the United States in 139 starts there -- moved into contention Saturday with a 67, the lowest score of the third round at Royal Sydney.
On Sunday, the 35-year-old Senden moved in and out of the lead with several others, including U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby, before going to 8-under 280 with his birdie on the last hole.
Ogilvy missed a birdie putt on 18 to finish with a 67 and at 7-under 281. Appleby, playing with Ogilvy and in the group behind Senden, bogeyed 18 to finish with a 68 and tied for third, two shots behind Senden.
Gavin Coles, with a 70, was tied with Appleby, while Adam Scott (70), and Nathan Green (72) were three shots behind. Green led after each of the first three rounds and took a one-stroke lead into the final round.
Senden birdied the tough par-3, 220-yard 17th, hitting his approach to 2 feet, before stroking a 6-iron pin-high on 18.
‘I was aiming for the center of the green, but the wind got up there and took it the right way,’ said Senden. ‘When I saw it coming down, I knew it was going to be a good one.
‘I was shaking a little bit on that last putt, but it went in.’
Greg Norman, a five-time Australian Open champion, finished with a 2-over 74 on Sunday and a 6-over total of 294, 14 strokes behind Senden.
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