New Zealand staged an impressive fightback but it wasn't enough as Australia won the inaugural Four Nations Cup by 11 shots in fine and warm conditions at The Hills near Arrowtown today.
Australia, who held a 14-shot lead heading into the final round courtesy of superb rounds from Brett Drewitt (65) and Todd Sinnott (66), were too far out of reach of the Kiwis who fought hard in the final 18 holes.
The 11-shot margin flattered the Australian team as it was a tense afternoon on the championship layout when the Kiwis at one stage closed to within three shots.
New Zealand number one Ryan Fox led the charge today with a five-under-par 67 that was backed up by Ben Campbell (69) and Mathew Perry (70). The three, who had been the dominant players all week for New Zealand, combined for an impressive 10 under total.
It could have been better. Fox, who with three holes remaining was eight under, made a costly double bogey on the par 3 16th and bogey on the par 5 17th, Perry made a triple on 12 and bogey on 15 and Campbell made back-to-back bogeys on 12 and 13.
All of a sudden the three-shot deficit was out to 10 and it made the job that much easier for the Australian team.
"We all found trouble at about the same time which was disappointing,'' said the 24-year-old Fox, who is preparing to turn professional at the end of 2011.
"We knew we had to get off to a fast start and we did that and then coming into the last few holes maybe we chased it a bit hard.
"We had fought back so well to get within three shots and the Aussies were feeling it as well but then we all made mistakes and it went from three shots to 10 or 11 pretty quickly.
"It could have been different but you have to give it to the Aussies _ they played pretty solid golf for the last two days and they deserved to win.''
Drewitt had a weekend to remember and led his team to a fine victory. His four-under-par 68 ensured that Australia would claim another piece of silverware to sit alongside the Trans Tasman Cup, Nomura Cup and Southern Cross Cup.
His final-round score proved to be the difference as he combined with Sinnott (72) and Ryan Peake (70) for a six-under-par total to secure what in the end was a comfortable win.
"It was good to be able to back up that 65 from yesterday and to play that good around Sir Michael Hill's course was just amazing,'' said Drewitt, who finished as the leading individual on an eight under par, winning by six shots from New Zealand's Campbell and compatriot Sinnott.
Drewitt was scoreboard watching throughout the final round and knew the Kiwis were making a charge.
"I was aware of it but I just tried to play my own game. I had confidence in the boys who have been playing good this week. I was just trying to do what I do and I was pleased to get it done.''
Argentina performed well in the final round with an even par total to overtake South Africa (+5) into third place by four shots.
The Four Nations Cup is an amalgamation of two tournaments the Four Nations (between NZ, Australia, Japan and Canada) and the Southern Cross Cup (between NZ, Australia, South Africa and Argentina) becoming one Stroke Play event.
The four international teams (NZ, Australia, South Africa and Argentina) are made up of four male players with the best three scores counting each day. One round of golf was played each day for four days.
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