Adrian Meronk is the first Polish player to win the Australian Open after romping to a five-stroke victory at Victoria Golf Club.
The DP World Tour star captured the Stonehaven Cup in style with an eagle at the 72nd hole in a closing four-under-par 66 on Sunday.
Meronk denied his childhood idol Adam Scott a second Open trophy, 13 years after his first, as Australia’s third-round leader finished with a disappointing two-over 74.
Min Woo Lee (69) finished outright third a further shot back at nine under to secure a not insignificant consolation prize of a ticket to next year’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.
The top three finishers not otherwise exempt gained entry to the 151st Open.
Meronk and Scott had already qualified, leaving Spaniard Alejandro Canizares (64) and Lee’s fellow West Australian Haydn Barron (68) to snare the other two spots after sharing fourth at seven under.
Meanwhile, Ashleigh Buhai has survived an afternoon of carnage to win the Australian Open and achieve a feat not even Cameron Smith can claim.
The South African prevailed after a dramatic collapse from Sydney prodigy Grace Kim to dash local hopes for another year on Sunday.
Buhai closed with a one-over-par 73 at Victorian Golf Club to post a nerve-wracking one-stroke victory over Korean Jayai Shin (75).
With a winning 12-under 72-hole total of 277, Buhai completed a rare British Open-Australian Open double, having also triumphed at Muirfield to clinch her maiden major championship in July.