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Stefan Tonev
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Poland’s Meronk wins Australian Open
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South Arica's Ashleigh Buhai takes women's crown

Adam Scott’s hopes of a second Australian Open triumph crumbled on Melbourne’s ‘Sandbelt’ as towering Polish trailblazer Adrian Meronk coolly closed out a five-stroke win in style at Victoria Golf Club on Sunday.

The Pole, who shot a four-under 66 and was nearly flawless on a testing day, was nearly bowled over by his thrilled girlfriend when she charged onto the green and leapt into his arms in celebration.

“To finish like that on the 18th hole, it’s unreal,” said 29-year-old Meronk, his country’s first winner on the European tour.

“[Scott] was always my role model growing up… but beating him in the final group in front of the big crowds in Australia is just quite an unbelievable experience.”

Meronk’s ranking boost should be enough for him to become the first to qualify for the Masters.

Third-placed Min Woo Lee won exemption to the British Open along with fellow Australian Haydn Barron and Spain’s Alejandro Canizares, who finished joint fourth on seven-under.

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai won the women’s component of the inaugural dual gender event by a stroke from Shin Jiyai, the South Korean missing a five-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff.