CARMEN Hajjar endured a roller-coaster ride to sudden-death victory in the JAL Hongkong Open women's amateur championship at Fanling yesterday.
The 26-year-old Australian clinched a heart-stopping triumph on the third extra hole after blowing a five-stroke lead on the back nine and then watching Japanese opponent Yukiko Oita throw away her own chance of victory on the final regulation hole.
''I hadn't been in that type of situation before and I was so incredibly nervous,'' said Hajjar, a scratch handicapper from Brisbane who had never previously travelled beyond her home country and for whom shopping was one of the main purposes of the trip.
Four shots clear of her closest challengers and five in front of Oita going into the last round, Hajjar looked set to coast to a runaway success as she toured the front nine of the Eden Course in even-par 35.
With Hongkong's Joann Hardwick firing a 76 to finish third, Oita emerged as the only serious threat. And when Hajjar faltered on the back nine, the experienced three-handicapper from Shinyu Country Club in Kobe pounced.
Putting tentatively, Hajjar saw her lead reduced to just one with three holes remaining.