Ha Na Jang has produced a stunning late surge to win the women's Australian Open at Royal Adelaide.
South Korea's world No. 6 landed an eagle and three birdies in her last six holes on Sunday to triumph by three shots from Denmark's Nanna Madsen.
Sweet victory: South Korea's Ha Na Jang kisses the Australian Open cup.Credit:Getty Images
"It's a really good, strong finish. That is why it's good sport today," said Jang.
Australians Minjee Lee and Sarah Jane Smith were among a quartet tied for third at six under, with compatriots Hannah Green at five under and Su Oh finishing four under.
Native talent: Ha Na hangs out with local wildlife after her win.Credit:Getty Images
Lee, the world No.17 and Australia's top-ranked golfer, was the best-performed local in testing winds on Sunday, carding three under in what she described as another learning experience. "I will always have something to take away from this week ... hopefully some day soon I'll win it," she said.
Australia's Green shot two under in the final round in a heartening tournament for the 20-year-old from Perth, who only turned pro in October last year.
"I'm really excited. I feel like I belong on the LPGA," Green said.
Meanwhile world No.1 golfer Lydia Ko is putting a positive spin on her middling Australian Open performance.
Ko finished two over, completing just one round under par at Royal Adelaide in her first outing since changing coach, club-makers and caddie.
The New Zealander says rather than dwelling on the negatives such as a plethora of near-misses with the putter, she'll focus on the positives.
"I hit my driver really well and that was the biggest thing that I was struggling with towards the end of my year last year," Ko said after carding two over in Sunday's final round. "It was great to be confident and be able to hit those fairways, especially with the wind this week, it wasn't easy to hit them.
"A lot of positive signs. Hopefully by next week it will be polished.
"It was my first tournament back. I think there are a lot of positive things to look at rather than thinking 'hey, I shot over par'."
Canada's world No.8 Brooke Henderson, widely fancied to ultimately pinch Ko's top-ranking, also failed to live up to her pre-tournament hype.
The 19-year-old finished two under, after shooting two under on Sunday.
"I feel like my game was really close to being really good, just made some dumb mistakes here and there," Henderson said.
"I'm hitting the ball really well and my putting, I made a lot of putts ... I feel if I can maybe capitalise one or two more chances, then things will turn around big time."
AAP