Jones, a victor on the PGA Tour previous year, carded a two-over 73 to win by a shot at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney.
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The fanfare for Pampling was low key in comparison, although his 60-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole was a moment everyone who saw it will remember – a “one in a million” roll, Pampling figured, that proved this was more an outer-body experience than a round of golf.
It wasn’t until Adam Scott finished his final round at 4pm that Pampling could officially pack up and head to the airport.
Pampling opened with a bogey, but then recorded nine birdies – including twos on three of the four par-three holes – and an eagle.
In the end it was 73 to Jones and 71 to Spieth.
“I got the job done”, he told a press conference.
He was left with his tee shot at the 17th and then missed the green long and right but was able to save par with a magnificent pitch and stood on the last tee with a one shot lead. “Twelve was by far the tipping point in the round”.
“Even if I up-and-down it for a par, starting tomorrow one over, unless they come way, way back I’m pretty much done so, like I said, it’s a good shot, maybe a little lucky but took advantage of it”.
Schwartzel finished four shots ahead of Gregory Bourdy in second and five clear of third-placed Benjamin Hebert after a two-under-par fourth round. Pampling came through The Open Qualifying Series at the Emirates Australian Open past year to secure his place at the 144TH Open at St Andrews.
“I knew I have been playing well, but I could not get anything going earlier in the tournament”, Pampling said. The course has been tough, with only 18 under par after the first round and 12 after the second.
Spieth, Scott and Jones traded the lead down the stretch Sunday, with the 2014 Shell Houston Open champion this time locking down his national open and a trip to the Open Championship.
“That was very stressful, it wasn’t comfortable out there for me”, said Jones, whose victory earns him a place in next July’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Scott and Spieth tied for runner-up position with Rod Pampling 4th and Nick Cullen and first round leader, Lincoln Tighe, sharing 5th. “I battled away today, which was fantastic”.
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The names Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player were already on the Stonehaven Cup but for Jones, nothing compared to emulating the success of his boyhood hero Greg Norman.
