South Korea's Jin Jeong overcame Ross Fisher of England on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the ISPS HANDA Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club in Western Australia.
Jeong, winner of the Amateur Championship at Muirfield in 2010, began the day one behind Western Australia's Brody Ninyette, but the young South Korean suffered a disastrous start when he four-putted the opening green for a double bogey.
The 23-year-old showed great resilience to recover from that setback and birdies at the 4th and 5th holes saw him back on the right track.
Jeong overtook Ninyette on the back nine and made crucial putts at the 16th and 17th to stay ahead of the Australian.
England's Ross Fisher played a steady final round. Out in one-under-par 35, he then made two more birdies at the start of the back nine. A stumble at the 13th was rectified with a birdie at the par-5 15th, and when he played a superb approach to the par-3 17th to set up a birdie two, he tied Jeong at the top of the leaderboard.
Neither man could find a birdie at the last so extra holes were required to decide the winner.
Fisher found the left-hand semi-rough from the tee on the 1st extra hole, (Lake Karrinyup's 18th,) while Jeong found the fairway. The South Korean played a solid approach that ended some 30 feet from the pin. Fisher then caught a flyer from the rough and his shot sailed over the green. He was unable to get up and down and Jeong two-putted to take a life-changing victory. He is now exempt on the European Tour to the end of 2015.
"I was going to go back to Q School Second Stage the week after next but I guess I don't have to anymore," he said. "I was nervous, I was shaking but I controlled myself pretty well today."
Although disappointed to lose out, Fisher was pleased with his game as he continues a welcome return to form.
"Unfortunately I came up a little short," he said. "But I played well today and hung in. I've moved up the Race to Dubai and should get into China next week. It's definitely a step in the right direction."
ISPS HANDA Perth International Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, Australia Oct 17-20, purse €1,461,000, par 72
1 Jin Jeong (Kor) 68 72 69 69 278 €245,438 2 Ross Fisher (Eng) 72 67 71 68 278 €163,626 T3 Brody Ninyette (Aus) 72 69 67 72 280 €76,087 T3 Dimitros Papadatos (Aus) 69 71 72 68 280 €76,087 T3 Danny Willett (Eng) 72 71 68 69 280 €76,087 6 Brett Rumford (Aus) 71 73 65 72 281 €51,543 T7 Richard Finch (Eng) 72 69 69 72 282 €37,994 T7 JB Hansen (Den) 70 73 66 73 282 €37,994 T7 Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 71 73 67 71 282 €37,994 T10 Fredrik Andersson-Hed (Swe) 69 73 68 73 283 €28,275 T10 Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 69 75 71 283 €28,275
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
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