By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Australian golfer Marcus Fraser snatched the Ballantine's Championship trophy on Jeju Island, Korea, Sunday.
Fraser marked 3-under 69 on a windy final day to grab his second victory on the European Tour with a 12-under 204 total.
The 31-year-old, who debuted in the EPGA Tour in 2002, recorded his first win in the BMW Russia Open in 2003, but had been winless since then.
His best finish was runner-up in the Australian Masters at the start of the 2009 season.
Fraser collected 366,660 euros ($493,355) in prize money.
``Unbelievable, I can't describe it,'' an emotional Fraser said. ``I just don't know how I did that today. I've had so many chances to win in the last seven years, so to go out there and play like I did today and this week, it's a big relief.
``I don't know if I have anything left in me to go a fourth round, but I don't care,'' he said. ``I've worked very hard the last few years to be in a position where I should be winning golf tournaments, so it's a huge reward,'' Fraser added.
The 232nd ranked Aussie entered third and final round with one a shot lead over the chasing pack including world No. 7 Ernie Els.
While Fraser sustained his performance with four birdies and one bogey, second placed Gareth Maybin of Northern Island was unable to close the gap hitting an even-par with four birdies and bogeys.
Brett Rumford with a 1-under 71 shared second with Maybin.
Els seemed to be on his way to catch with three birdies on the first nine. However, the South African collapsed on the return, writing three bogeys and a double-bogey on his scorecard to finish 9th.
Among Korean golfers, Noh Seung-yul was the highest finisher at fourth.
The 18-year-old Noh had three birdies, one eagle and one bogey for a 7-under 209 total, and earned 93,639 euros ($124,239), putting him first on Asian Tour and Korea PGA Tour money lists.
``After this event I will focus on EPGA Tour and I will not play in the Asian Touru,'' Noh said.
``In order to play in the EPGA I have practiced to play stably on windy days,'' he added.
Meanwhile the PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun didn't have a good outing in front of domestic fans from his hometown, failing to make cut.
``I tried to give a good performance but I didn't. I am sorry to my fans,'' Yang said.
After the heavy fog forced a changed schedule ― from four rounds to three ― Yang played 35 holes on the second day followed by one the next.
``To compensate for my bad performance, I will try to win and maintain a good record on the PGA Tour,'' he added.