Career-best finish for Purcell as Meronk wins Australian Open
Conor Purcell. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Conor Purcell clinched the best finish of his professional career when he tied for seventh behind Horizon Irish Open champion Adrian Meronk in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne.
The Portmarnock star (25) closed with a one-over 71 to tie for seventh at Victoria Golf Club and pick up €28,418.
While he missed out on one of three spots in The Open at Royal Liverpool, it was a career-best week for the former Walker Cup player on one of the world’s major tours.
Set to ply his trade on the Challenge Tour in 2023, Purcell had never made a cut in four previous DP World Tour events.
“It was a great week and I enjoyed every minute of it,” said the Dubliner, who made three birdies and four bogeys to finish on five-under-par.
“It was nice to get myself in the second last group on a Sunday. The crowds were amazing and the support from all the Irish down in Melbourne was incredible.
“There are lots of positives to take from the week but time to rest up now before the start of the Challenge Tour in February.”
Purcell shot a 66 on Saturday to go into the final round tied for fifth, just six shots behind Adam Scott.
But it was Meronk (29) who stormed to his second DP World Tour title as he eagled the last in a stunning five-shot victory.
The Pole entered the final day a shot behind Scott but after a two-shot swing on the first, he never looked back, signing for a four-under 66 to finish at 14 under.
Meronk became the first Polish player to win a DP World Tour event when he claimed the Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet last July.
He was four over after his first 16 holes in Melbourne, opening with a 73 before firing rounds of 66, 63 and 66 to claim a win that will likely keep him in the world’s top 50 at the end of the season.
Scott carded a 72 in front of adoring home crowds to finish a shot ahead of another Australian in Min Woo Lee, who recorded a closing 69. Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares signed for a 64 to finish tied fourth on seven-under alongside Australia's Haydn Barron, one clear of Kiwi Josh Geary.
Lee, Barron and Cañizares secured places in The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool via The Open Qualifying Series.
In the women's event, South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai—the AIG Women’s Open champion—shot 73 to win by one stroke from South Korean Jiyai Shin on 12-under while Kipp Popert cruised to victory in the G4D Tour season opener, winning the Australian All Abilities Championship by seven shots from Canada’s Kurtis Barkley on two-under.
Former world number one Brendan Lawlor was tied fourth, 15 shots behind the winner.
