SYDNEY, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- England's Paul Casey steadied himself on the final two holes Sunday and held on for his second career title at the ANZ Championship.
His once-comfortable lead down to two points under the modified Stableford scoring system, Casey made a crucial 18-foot par putt at the 17th hole, then birdied the 18th for a four-point victory over Australians Nick O'Hern and Stuart Appleby.
Casey's only other triumph came at the 2001 Scottish PGA Championship, but he led midway through last week's Heineken Classic.
"The first win was tough and I don't know if the second is tougher," said the 25-year-old who resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. "They are all tough. This shows the first wasn't a flash in the pan and it probably answers a few critics out there."
Casey's doubters were heartened after bogeys at the 15th and 16th holes knocked him back to 43 points. Almost simultaneously, O'Hern birdied the par-5 18th to move up to 41 points.
But Casey rolled in an 18-footer for par at No. 17 and, after Appleby barely missed a chip for eagle at the 18th hole, made a three-footer for birdie.
One day after firing a 9-under-par 63 to rack up 21 points, Casey settled for a 71 and six points. But it was good enough to claim the $195,861 top prize.
Peter Lonard, one of eight Australians among the top 10 on the leaderboard, made an early charge with a 30 on the front nine. He also birdied three of the first four holes on the back side to get to 42 points but double-bogeyed the par-4 14th and tied for fourth with countryman Jarrod Moseley.
This tournament is one of only two in the world that employs the modified Stableford scoring system, which encourages aggressive play. A birdie is worth two points, an eagle five, a par zero and a bogey minus-1.
