Aussie rookie shoots 67 to win

Australian Marcus Both emerged as the inaugural Sanya Open winner yesterday after an action-packed final round at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Hainan province, China.

The 24-year-old Both, playing in his rookie year after earning his Asian PGA Tour card from Qualifying School in January, prevailed by one stroke after shooting a five-under-par 67, which included a stunning run of five consecutive birdies from the 12th hole.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat carded a fine 65 to finish tied for second with Taiwan's Chen Yuan-chi and South African Hendrik Buhrmann, who missed an eight-foot birdie attempt on the 18th hole to force a sudden-death play-off.