Cool Lonard claims first Australian Open title
Lonard, who started the day two shots behind overnight leader Downes, closed with a three-under-par 69 to finish on nine-under 279 and win a gripping shoot-out with Leaney at the new Moonah Links course south of Melbourne.
The 2002 Australian PGA and Australian Masters winner, Lonard added the national open championship with a stunning approach shot to the par-five 18th that left him with a six-foot putt for birdie.
Lonard, who in 1993 contracted the mosquito-carried Ross River virus which damages the eyes and feared he might never play professional golf again, said it was a special moment.
"If you'd told me back in the dark days that I'd be winning any of these, I'd have said you were crazy," Lonard told a news conference.
"Now it means I'm a part of Australian golf history."
Lonard, 36, fired birdies on the par-five 13th, par-four 16th and par-five 18th holes in his five-birdie, two-bogey round.
Leaney, who was in the final playing group with Downes, needed a birdie on the 18th to force a play-off but failed to hole his 10-foot putt after a 50-foot birdie attempt lipped out of the cup on the 17th hole.
Downes, 23, who held a one-stroke lead overnight from Leaney, had five bogeys in a 72 and had to be content with equal second place with Leaney (71) on 280, eight under, after picking up a birdie on the last hole.
Craig Jones (71) and 44-year-old Peter Fowler, who closed with a 70 and won the Australian Open 20 years ago, shared fourth place on 281.
Lonard said he was excited to join the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Peter Thomson and Greg Norman as Australian Open winners.
"It's a catalogue of the greatest golfers in the world," said the new champion.
Prize money for next year's Dubai Desert Classic will reach $2m (£1.1m) for the first time in its history.
Tiger Woods is expected to lead a 150-strong field for the tournament.
The world number one said earlier this month he would compete in the event, scheduled for 4-7 March, after opting out this year due to the Iraq crisis.
"We continue to attract the big names none are bigger than Tiger and will announce more over the coming weeks," the tournament vice-chairman said.
"In 2004, the winner will receive a cheque for $333,330 (£189,000)," Buamim added.
"That's just slightly less than what was the total overall prize money on offer in 1989."
Japan's rising son Hideto Tanihara cruised to a comfortable three-stroke victory in the $910,000 Okinawa Open after shooting a final round three-under-par 69 yesterday.
The 26-year-old Tanihara reinforced his growing credentials as a top player with a cool display at Southern Links Golf Club as the overnight leaders struggled to keep pace.
He finished with a four-day total of nine-under-par 279, winning Christmas spending money of $186,000 and a Toyota Prius car.
Seven players, including Asian PGA members Ted Oh, Charlie Wi and Chung Joon, all from Korea, finished a distant equal second on 282.
Overnight leader Hiroshi Goda, last year's runner-up Yusaku Miyazato, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama and Scotsman Simon Yates also shared second place and won $47,242.
Lahinch Golf Club have won the Great Britain and Ireland Rules of Golf Quiz final at the Big Room of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland.
In the final they beat the English champions, Ellesborough Golf Club, Buckinghamshire by 39 to 33 points. In the semi-final they beat the Scottish champions, Glen of East Lothian by two points.
As part of their reward for winning the Lahinch team were entertained to dinner by the R & A at the clubhouse.
This was followed next day by a round of golf on the Old Course and will be followed by a weeks pass for each member of the team at the British Open next year.
The Lahinch team was: John Turner (captain),Tommy Benn, Harry Dalton and Kevin Glynn with Austin Davis (reserve).
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