Fearless American rookie Ryggs Johnston (24) shot a 68 to win the Australian Open on Saturday, beating South Korea's former world number one Shin Ji-yai (36) ) was crowned Women's Champion, the 65th title of her career.
Johnston had an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys en route to finishing at 18 under for his first career win at the DP World Tour event in Melbourne.
That earned him an exemption to next year's British Open.
He is three strokes ahead of Australian Curtis Luck and four ahead of Marc Leishman and Jasper Stubbs.
Johnston, named after Mel Gibson's character Martin Riggs in the movie “Lethal Weapon,” turned pro this year and is touring with DP World Qualifying schools get their own playing cards.
“I was pretty tired from traveling and Q-school, and I didn't get to practice because of the weather,” he said.
“So I didn’t really have any expectations, which probably helped me in the end.
“It’s not completely integrated yet, but it feels amazing.”
Compared with Johnston's lack of experience, Shen, a former two-time British Open champion who has been on the tour for nearly 20 years, had a tense ending.
She led by seven shots with eight holes to play before Ashleigh Buhai, South Africa's two-time defending champion, stormed back to within two.
Buhai finished second, while Shin's compatriot, 17-year-old amateur Yang Hyo-jin, finished eight strokes behind in third.
In the Australian Mixed Open, male and female players tee off on the same court in alternating groups.
Johnston and LIV Golf's Lucas Herbert led the men's field by two strokes.
But Australian Herbert struggled in the wet and breezy conditions at Kingston Heath, Melbourne's famous sand strip, and fell off the pace.
Luck was a big factor on the day and his putter worked quickly to lead by one.
But birdies on Nos. 10, 14 and 15 gave Johnston the advantage heading home, and when Lucky bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18, his challenge it's over.
Shin opened the tournament two strokes ahead of Australia's world No. 6 Hannah Green and four over Buhay, setting up a showdown between three major champions.
With Shin in control, a long-awaited Grandstand finale seemed to fizzle out early.
She had three birdies and an eagle on the front nine with a double bogey to build a six-shot lead over Buhay that soon grew to seven.
Green collapsed, dropping six shots in the first nine holes and out of contention, but Buhay's comeback gave Shin a scare.
“I only have one Australian Open trophy and I'm excited to get the next one, especially at Kingston Heath,” Sheen, who won the title at Royal Canberra in 2013, was relieved.
“I had a fight with Ashley and I was just trying to focus on my game and it wasn't easy but now I can breathe.”
