‘Lethal Weapon’ Johnston and Shin Ji-yai win Australian Open titles

MELBOURNE: Fearless American rookie Ryggs Johnston fired a 68 to win the Australian Open on Saturday, with South Korean former world number one Shin Ji-yai crowned women´s champion for her 65th career title.

Johnston sank an eagle and five birdies to three bogeys, finishing at 18-under for the tournament to claim his maiden professional win at the DP World Tour event in Melbourne. It earned him an exemption to next year´s British Open. He outlasted Australian Curtis Luck by three shots and Marc Leishman and Jasper Stubbs by four.

Named after Mel Gibson´s character Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon movies, Johnston turned professional this year and earned his playing card through the DP World Tour qualifying school.

“I turned up pretty tired already from the travel and Q-school and I didn´t get a practice round with the weather,” he said. “So I didn´t really have any expectations which probably helped me in the end. “It hasn´t quite sunk in yet, but an amazing feeling.”

In contrast to Johnston´s inexperience, former two-time British Open winner Shin has been on tour for nearly 20 years, but she had a nervy finish. The 36-year-old was seven clear with eight holes to play before South African two-time defending champion Ashleigh Buhai came storming back to get within two shots.

Buhai eventually finished second with Shin´s compatriot, 17-year-old amateur Yang Hyo-jin, eight shots further back in third. The mixed Australian Open involved men and women teeing off in alternating groups on the same courses. Johnston and LIV Golf´s Lucas Herbert were the men´s overnight leaders by two strokes.