NEW ZEALANDER Ryan Fox has won the 2014 John Hughes Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship by an emphatic six shots.
Starting the day tied for the lead, Fox made his intentions known early with a birdie on the first before going on to shoot a 5-under 67 for a tournament total of 23-under.
“I am ecstatic and a bit relieved,” said the 27 year old Fox immediately after his victory. “It was great to get off to a good start, get a decent lead and be able to enjoy the last few holes.”
“I was pretty relaxed going in. I tried to stay that way, when you’re hitting good shots it’s pretty easy to do that.”
Touted as a rising star of New Zealand golf and the son of All Black Legend Grant, Fox has had high expectations on his shoulders and is ecstatic to have broken through for his maiden victory on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“It’s great to win my first Tour event; I have been in this position a couple of times but hadn’t quite got it done. It’s nice to turn all that practice into a winning result,” he said.
A birdie on the 18th sealed a runner-up finish for West Australian Stephen Dartnall (69) who ended the tournament on 17-under.
A shot further back tied third were Rhein Gibson (NSW), Paul Spargo (SA) and Daniel Nisbet (QLD).
Finishing the leading amateur on 13-under the card was Victorian Todd Sinnott. He finished the tournament tied 6th with Kim Felton (WA), Mathew Perry (NZ), Josh Younger (Vic), Daniel Fox (WA), Matt Jager (WA), Anthony Houston (Vic), Steve Jones (Vic).
The PGA Tour of Australasia will now be joined by the European Tour for the ISPS Handa Perth International this week at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
WA Open Results